tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59482594767041942302014-10-01T00:55:54.262-06:00The Eclectic Eccentric$teve is not a name...it's a state of mind. From McGarrett to Young to Wonder to Austin to Vai to Ray Vaughan to Largent to Nash to Spielberg to Carell to Colbert to Martin to King to McQueen, all are great...but a $teve by any other name would still be just as great.$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.comBlogger369125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-89445685206614710582008-03-31T19:12:00.006-06:002010-12-04T22:26:22.499-07:00Future ChangeGood Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />My apologies for the gloomy rant yesterday…but I'm better now. My friends were there for me to cheer me up as usual…and I was able to make them laugh, which always makes me feel good. Thanks y'all!!! Today, I woke up a little early and did some push ups, stretches, and little workout routine that I used to always do to get the blood pumping in the morning. I would have gone jogging…but there was snow on the ground…so I passed. Instead, I gave <strong>my dad</strong> a call to see if he could use some company…and of course he wants to see his eldest son while recovering from a leg injury. So I packed up some movies that I thought he would like (Sunshine, Knocked Up, Superbad, Boondock Saints, etc.) and some classics that I know he likes (Vanishing Point, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry, &amp; Virtuosity). Odd thing was…he actually rented Virtuosity last week. You know what they say about great minds…they think like us.<br /><br />We were even flipping through the channels and watched the first minute of "Disturbia" where the main character &amp; his dad get in a car wreck...and we simultaneously reached for the remote to change it...and then got into a discussion about how just about the only movies that make us cry are the ones where there's a <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/01/softer-side-of-teve.html"><strong>father-son tragedy thing</strong> </a>going on...like "Godfather", "Big Fish", "Frequency", and even "Lord of the Rings" when the King says something like "A father should never have to bury his son." I thought it was weird that we had that same thing...but then again, my grandpa died fairly young...and suddenly...so I can see where that would be the case. Maybe it's genetic or something. I don't know. I'm not a scientist.<br /><br />He's getting around the house good with his crutches and little walker and stuff like that…but you can tell that the pain is pretty bad still. It's hard to see my dad go through stuff like that…but that's why he has a good kid like me…to <strong>help him out with the little things</strong>…like interesting conversation, refreshing his beverage, or cleaning out his urine bottle. "Dude, I really appreciate you helping me with this stuff." "It's no problem, man. At one time, you wiped my ass for me and I probably peed on you…so it's only fair that I repay the debt, right? If you pee on me intentionally though, we're done." "Hahaha, understood. Hey, remember to wash your hands." "Dude, I'm already trying to remember where the grease soap is in this place. I'm taking a few layers of skin off." "You know, urine is sterile." "I could give a damn. I'm not prepping for surgery." My dad &amp; I obviously have similar senses of humor. Wonder how that happened…<br /><br />We caught up on things…and we're already planning on a <strong>trip to Vegas</strong>, just the two of us…probably late May-early June, so stay tuned for that one. Also, he told me about some friends of his that asked him if he &amp; my stepmom wanted to go to the <strong>Sturgis Rally in South Dakota</strong> this August. Being a big Harley guy, he was interested…as was I. Apparently, these friends of his wanted to go are well to do…and will be driving a black H2 Hummer…with the Batman logo on the sides…and pulling a trailer with Harleys. That's right, the <strong>Bat-Hummer</strong>. Apparently it's because the wife (Wiccan friend of my stepmom) saves and nurses trapped bats caught in chimneys and what-have-you back to health…but it sounds awesome. Besides, I visited Sturgis during the off-season once when I was about twelve…and saw Spearfish, Deadwood, the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, all that stuff…but don't really have pictures of it…nor any good biker stories…so I'm trying to slide my way into this hook-up somehow. At the very least, I'm good entertainment. Oooh, speaking of entertainment, Sammy Hagar &amp; ZZ Top will be performing at the Sturgis Rally this year. That's worth it right there. Anyway, I'll keep you posted as that comes up…but yeah, we basically caught up and watched "Sunshine" which he liked…as predicted. Then I came here to work.<br /><br />As mentioned yesterday, over the last few weeks, I have been seriously considering <strong>a drastic and major change</strong>…because I find myself growing a little bored and complacent, whereas I used to have Passion to get up early, do stuff all day from school to work to volunteering to trying new things and everything in between, go to bed late, and repeat off four hours of sleep. Then I graduated…and slowly but surely, about the only things that are the same are work and going to bed late…and it's been really gradual…and I'm starting to feel like I need a major change to get the Passion flowing back into my life. I making this a little more dramatic than it really is…but only slightly. I still really enjoy so many things about my life that it's crazy to be talking like this…but I think that it'd be <strong>a great new adventure</strong>…to consider moving outside of my Comfort Zone a.k.a. Slick City.<br /><br />Now, for those of you who are fairly new to this blog, I was born and raised and have always lived along the Wasatch Front in northern Utah. From the small-town ghetto to the small-town suburbs to cow country to the upper-class mountains to the larger-town ghetto to the larger-town suburbs…but all here in Utah. Why? My family &amp; friends are all here…and they're insanely important to me. Also, I love the mountains…and nature in general. The people are really nice…like creepy nice…like something out of Stepford Wives most of the time. I have nothing but Love for Utah…but I think it would be a great adventure for me to move out of the state, if not the country, to get some real world experience…whatever that means. Of course, I'm also really logical even when I'm dreaming about ideas and this and that…so I have to do serious pros &amp; cons…and basically use that stuff to convince myself that something is a good idea…and this is no different. Thus, I share with you…<strong>my Pros &amp; Cons for my Top Options</strong> that I've come up with for living quarters.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Leaving Utah in General</strong><br /></span><br /><p><strong>Pros</strong></p><ul><li>Career Progression</li><li>Change of Scenery, new adventure</li><li>Force me to break out of my Comfort Zone</li><li>Meet new people<br /></li></ul><p><strong>Cons</strong></p><ul><li>Family &amp; Friends aren't readily available</li><li>If something happens, I'm on my own</li><li>Only see family on holidays and stuff</li><li>Already have a job with good pay &amp; little responsibility</li><li>Pay cut probably involved initially</li><li>I'd have to move my stuff</li><li>Leaving the mountains<br /></li></ul><strong>Summary </strong>- Maybe I just need to get Passion into my life somehow…but really I'm thinking that I can leave for a few years and then return with some experience…hopefully to get a good job that I love in the city I want to retire in...Eden, Utah. So now let's look at the other options I'm considering…<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Las Vegas, Nevada</span></strong><br /><br /><p><strong>Pros</strong></p><ul><li>Love the city like a fat kid loves cake</li><li>Prostitution, higher alcohol content, no state tax, more bang for your buck</li><li>Entertainment Capital of the World</li><li>America's Playground…if not the World's</li><li>Family &amp; friends could visit every few months easily…and gratefully</li><li>The Wingmans live two hours away</li><li>SoCal is about six hours away</li><li>I know a few people in the area (Bubbles &amp; two former bosses)</li><li>Booming economy, especially in my favorite industries</li><li>Already familiar with the area &amp; have scouted real estate</li><li>Great job market for me in the area<br /></li></ul><p><strong>Cons</strong></p><ul><li>Fear of drunk drivers increased</li><li>Need to watch out for addictions of all kinds</li><li>Really just the usual 'leaving home' stuff<br /></li></ul><strong>Summary</strong> - This is by far the leading candidate right now. I had thought about it for a while…but it was really this latest trip to help Bubbles move in where I was convinced that it really wouldn't be a bad idea…if not just for a few years while I'm still young &amp; adventurous. There's also a rich variety of cultures that come to the area. My job would also involve me dressing up in a snappy three-piece and flashing the charm on dignitaries and drunken socialites. Not a bad environment to work in.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">San Diego / OC, California</span></strong><br /><br /><p><strong>Pros</strong></p><ul><li>Closest to Heaven that I'll ever be</li><li>300+ Days of pure sunshine &amp; skimpy outfits</li><li>Tourism is big business in the area</li><li>Ocean, beaches, culture</li><li>Seaport city, so I can trust seafood</li><li>I can also trust the fruits &amp; vegetables</li><li>Two hour flight from SLC (Delta &amp; JetBlue direct)<br /></li></ul><p><strong>Cons</strong></p><ul><li>Extremely high cost of living…but doable</li><li>Not insanely familiar with the area…but learn quickly</li><li>Two days drive from my family</li><li>Invest in sunblock<br /></li></ul><strong>Summary</strong> - Having to learn a little Spanish wouldn't be a bad thing but the major drawback would be the cost of living. There are suburbs though…and if I'm willing to skimp on my globetrotting, it's doable. I do love to travel and see the world though…and a lot of cruises leave from the area. It's another strong possibility…but still behind Vegas.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">New Orleans, Louisiana</span></strong><br /><br /><p><strong>Pros</strong></p><ul><li>Love the culture &amp; the food</li><li>Great jobs waiting for me</li><li>Familiar with the city</li><li>Cost of living is very reasonable for good parts of town</li><li>My friend Filly wants to move there when she graduates<br /></li></ul><p><strong>Cons</strong></p><ul><li>City is in reconstruction</li><li>Economy is…rebuilding at best</li><li>Fear of living underwater</li><li>Fear of stabbing</li><li>Humidity is not my friend<br /></li></ul><strong>Summary </strong>- I love to visit the Big Easy…but I really don't know if I'd want to live there. I've also always thought it was really, really city to build an entire city under sea level…and though I know that it rarely happens…it has happened recently…and global warming…and yeah, I don't want to be stabbed either. Still a possibility though.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, those are the top contenders right now…but I may just be blowing smoke and everything right now. This may go the way of my professional basketball career, movie directing career, and other ideas that I was really passionate about…but faded over time. We shall see. I just thought that I'd share these ideas with y'all (and I already have with some of you, thanks for the input by the way) and really it's so that I can see it to look at later…and try to make a decision. The first major thing is finding a good job…because if I can't pay for the move, then it'd be really pointless, right? Let me know what you think…and I'm sure that tomorrow will probably be a funnier post, like you're used to. In the meantime, have a great night…and I'll see you in April.$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-40732951876607287702008-07-23T13:40:00.003-06:002008-07-23T13:51:09.179-06:00The Next Generation<div><div>Good Afternoon again Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,</div><div></div><br /><div>Here's the link to the next generation of my blog experience, <a href="http://drmookielovejr.blogspot.com/"><strong>Dr. Mookie Love, jr</strong> </a>(Alternate name was $pawn of the $teve...just so you're aware). The official URL is <a href="http://drmookielovejr.blogspot.com/">http://drmookielovejr.blogspot.com/</a> so feel free to copy &amp; paste as needed because you guys rock and I hope that I can entertain you for years to come and share my wonderful world with you. I just can't do it here because of more than ample memory limitations...and I have a LOT of pictures to share of my journeys. I hope that while I'm setting up the new blog, you'll enjoy some of my past entries. If not, please be patient. I am theoretically on vacation right now...but not much else to do here in Great Falls honestly. Maybe I'll hit a bar up tonight and see how the local college girls enjoy their weekend nights. Anyway, have a great day &amp; I'll see ya later.</div><div></div><br /><br /><div>Your favorite non-profit gigolo,</div><br /><div></div><div>Dr. Mookie Love</div><div>a.k.a. $teve</div><div>a.k.a. $tever Beaver</div><div>a.k.a. Cookie</div><div>a.k.a. Pooh Bear</div><div>a.k.a. Sloppy Papi</div><div align="left">a.k.a. The Eclectic Eccentric</div><br /><br /><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226299301585104610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIeLhlDaLuI/AAAAAAAAHKI/1DT4GrwWxkU/s320/lebowski.jpg" border="0" /></div></div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-56382903854475416702008-07-23T11:50:00.015-06:002008-07-23T13:05:47.392-06:00Part 4 - Yellowstone & MontanaGood Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />We now continue on our mystical journey. Today, we get to check out Yellowstone, one of my favorite places. I apologize for the cloud cover on most of these pictures...and so does the Big Guy who put them there. Enjoy...<br /><br /><strong>Day 7 - Cody to Great Falls</strong><br /><br />We started a little earlier than usual (around 6:30 AM) and left the <a href="http://www.beartoothinn.com/"><strong>Beartooth Inn</strong> </a>in Cody towards <strong><a href="http://www.nps.gov/yell/">Yellowstone National Park</a></strong>. Now, this time, we basically did a drive through to get to Montana along the Eastern side of the park...but because I love you guys, I'm going to add some pictures from two years ago when I went along the Western &amp; Northern sides with my mom, stepdad, brother, and his fiance...now wife. No need to thank me, just pay it forward as usual. Now, one thought that I had about Yellowstone (being one of my favorite places on Earth) is about all the geysers, hot pots, mud volcanoes, and whatever else you want to call them...and they're basically the Earth letting off some internal steam...like sweating...only in Yellowstone, it's a lot more than just sweating...and the smell takes some getting used to I'm told, which is why I affectionately call Yellowstone "<strong>Mother Earth's A-Hole</strong>" but think about it. If Earth's A-hole is one of the most beautiful sights in all of the world...then we should definitely do all we can to see the rest of her, right? Anyway, just my thought...and I apparently think too much sometimes. Enjoy the pictures...<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226269491645156082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdwaaX4ivI/AAAAAAAAHD0/QEDfjNWSJxE/s320/DSC03248.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Lots of waterfalls of various sizes in the Park</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226269500906428626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdwa838WNI/AAAAAAAAHD8/1NiG9lOG0VA/s320/DSC03252.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Yellowstone Lake</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226269508162198290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdwbX52mxI/AAAAAAAAHEE/OBKfX4ouUtI/s320/DSC03254.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Think about the end credits of "Little House on the Prairie"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226272670824174946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdzTdvOlWI/AAAAAAAAHGU/XGKuKgL_H5A/s320/DSC03290.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226272679320621682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdzT9Y8EnI/AAAAAAAAHGc/HuwxQF3sd0w/s320/DSC03292.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">I like these purple flowers...whatever they're called</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226269516166301026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdwb1uLhWI/AAAAAAAAHEM/AEC9_rP3A_Q/s320/DSC03257.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226272692099168834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdzUs_lOkI/AAAAAAAAHGs/Qr0dx8LQG1M/s320/DSC03297.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226272680571747138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdzUCDOu0I/AAAAAAAAHGk/-tNJttOyZ98/s320/DSC03293.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226272151528038722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdy1PNYYUI/AAAAAAAAHGM/1TWZIrTiBsY/s320/DSC03280.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226272139825410450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdy0jnQcZI/AAAAAAAAHGE/r53jrfRqoQ0/s320/DSC03279.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"The Buffalo are nearby."</p><p align="center">"That's amazing! You can tell that just by sniffing their droppings?"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226268889676281986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdv3X3UeII/AAAAAAAAHDU/IjfTbI218U0/s320/Buffalo+-+Scat.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"No, I can see one right there."</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226271584644679202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdyUPZ2xiI/AAAAAAAAHFE/gO9VTjlzQAY/s320/DSC03260.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226271589973127186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdyUjQQcBI/AAAAAAAAHFM/nb9VzS323fY/s320/DSC03261.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">We've had a few close calls with Buffalo</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226271609054791170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdyVqVrhgI/AAAAAAAAHFc/mxovdLBcHGA/s320/DSC03264.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"Now, don't be alarmed...but he's coming towards you guys.</p><p align="center">It's okay, stay perfectly still. They rarely eat humans."</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226268889818605362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdv3YZQJzI/AAAAAAAAHDM/7UMoUthasVw/s320/Buffalo+-+Kiel+%26+Ashley.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Buffalo Joe - We have video with the van door open...</p><p align="center">but he gets up really quickly and I don't want to post</p><p align="center">footage of my entire family crapping their pants simultaneously</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226268894154584146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdv3ojB8FI/AAAAAAAAHDc/VnoQJ3PKDoE/s320/Buffalo+Joe.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Colter's Hell!!!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226268892691728450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdv3jGQiEI/AAAAAAAAHDk/yuHMmNl4QXg/s320/Colter%27s+Hell+2.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Mud Volcano</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226272123551704978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdyzm_TZ5I/AAAAAAAAHFs/9Uy1hwvMj84/s320/DSC03270.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226271601952727954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdyVP4ao5I/AAAAAAAAHFU/7qk5NPuk_SM/s320/DSC03263.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">My favorite, the Dragon's Lair</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226271616974597298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdyWH16LLI/AAAAAAAAHFk/114GL3eET50/s320/DSC03266.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226272135745116290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdy0UacGII/AAAAAAAAHF8/W6ABbERkniI/s320/DSC03278.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">A lot of buffalo on the range</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226272131751522786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdy0FiSseI/AAAAAAAAHF0/KwXFKy7ljl4/s320/DSC03274.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">A bear that we saw two years ago</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226268891398611810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdv3eR9I2I/AAAAAAAAHDE/c8-iPH_49Ag/s320/Bear+2.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">When we got to Mammoth Hot Springs, the does had taken over</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226272694162624786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdzU0rjERI/AAAAAAAAHG0/3f3vdswoXlQ/s320/DSC03298.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"Use the crosswalk. Remember what happened to Bambi?"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226273466701790162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0BynPO9I/AAAAAAAAHG8/49YxlwP1PS0/s320/DSC03300.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Mammoth Hot Springs</p><p align="center">Apparently twenty years ago, there was more action...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226273472488968274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0CILAkFI/AAAAAAAAHHE/9t9qev2kNPQ/s320/DSC03302.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226273478795111282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0Cfqgq3I/AAAAAAAAHHM/tIgaHjl6OB8/s320/DSC03303.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226273487121279954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0C-rn69I/AAAAAAAAHHU/NjejkyuEn1Q/s320/DSC03306.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Get your mind out of the gutter...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226273493045200146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0DUv_xRI/AAAAAAAAHHc/D4YgQdx0NYU/s320/DSC03308.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Sapphire Spring</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226273783773902498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0UPzHtqI/AAAAAAAAHH8/HbSh6XwFYgs/s320/Geyser+-+Sapphire+2.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226273781862090754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0UIrTyAI/AAAAAAAAHH0/ZVuAeNdX2s8/s320/Geyser+-+Sapphire.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226269486221960210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIdwaGK5JBI/AAAAAAAAHDs/n7tGYxrUBzA/s320/Colter%27s+Hell+6.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226273776854146914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0T2BUn2I/AAAAAAAAHHk/LTWZs2KW-Eg/s320/Falls+2.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Inspiration Point at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274016996092034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0h0nn6II/AAAAAAAAHIU/q-g8jndaje0/s320/Grand+Canyon+-+Sign.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226273779759222370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0UA18jmI/AAAAAAAAHIE/0Gey4aT-RFg/s320/Grand+Canyon+-+River.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">The Falls at the Grand Canyon</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274023173747906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0iLofdMI/AAAAAAAAHIc/yTuJkAMb4WQ/s320/Grand+Canyon+Falls+3.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274015085186818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0htgBzwI/AAAAAAAAHIM/TcQxRqH7LvM/s320/Grand+Canyon+-+River+2.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274020857727666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0iDATyrI/AAAAAAAAHIk/unoXWT1ySxk/s320/Grand+Canyon+Falls+-+Kiel+%26+Ashley.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Now, for the big show...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274148712997138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0pfTYYRI/AAAAAAAAHI8/2myuaFryjLw/s320/Old+Faithful+-+Sign.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"Everybody gather round!!! He's about to BLOW!!!"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274028401320386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0ifG14cI/AAAAAAAAHIs/PXKOoqiVSFk/s320/Old+Faithful+-+Crowd.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274143979085314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0pNqungI/AAAAAAAAHI0/JJYTlTLdwAk/s320/Old+Faithful+-+Eruption+3.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">I was a little disappointed by the size of the eruption...</p><p align="center">but maybe it was a long day for the Old Guy...</p><p align="center">maybe they should add some Viagra with his Metamucil</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226273776067279490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId0TzFt-oI/AAAAAAAAHHs/iBpLef9h9WM/s320/Geyser+-+Eruption.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">The Northern Gate of Yellowstone</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274908935169330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId1VvWeJTI/AAAAAAAAHJE/1-PvmRLYKcE/s320/DSC03313.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />After making it out of Yellowstone, we drove about an hour north to the city of <strong>Livingston, Montana</strong>. We stopped at a nice little diner there called Clark's Family Restaurant...but after waiting for twenty minutes and no waitress, we decided to just head to Arby's and be on our way. The drive through Montana was quite scenic. There was Bozeman, Butte (which ironically enough...has a HUGE hole in the middle of it, a copper mine), the capitol of Helena, and eventually to our stop for the next few days, Great Falls. Here are some accompanying pictures...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274909221616034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId1Vwaw-aI/AAAAAAAAHJM/qLYDcLZ0j7Y/s320/DSC03315.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">If you don't know why I took a picture of this sign,</p><p align="center">then you may not get half the jokes on this blog.</p><p align="center">P.S. Hi Lilie, it says "Boulder"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274914046704530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId1WCZJ-5I/AAAAAAAAHJU/f2L8tdYkBdk/s320/DSC03317.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">The State Capitol of Montana in Helena</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274919374308626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId1WWPWxRI/AAAAAAAAHJc/UNJdQx7wc4M/s320/DSC03318.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226274930165718466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId1W-cOncI/AAAAAAAAHJk/33upfWY5xHE/s320/DSC03320.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Magic Diamond Laundromat Casino</p><p align="center">Now, think about that for a second. MAGIC!!! DIAMONDS!!!</p><p align="center">CASINO!!! LAUNDROMAT!!! "One of these things does not belong..."</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226275077454155330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SId1fjIhzkI/AAAAAAAAHJs/UncORRR8ZhY/s320/DSC03321.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Along the drive, my mom &amp; I kept ourselves entertained by talking about this and that. By the way, we pulled into Great Falls with just <strong>over 2000 miles on this trip so far</strong>, which by my calculations means somewhere in the range of 40-50 hours in the car at various speeds over the last week...so we talked a LOT. <strong>One of the more memorable things</strong> from this portion was we say a semi going uphill carrying a large cylinder...but from our angle, it looked like a giant O...so we got to talking about Oprah...but not about all the stuff that she owns...but how unlucky she is because she can't trust anybody &amp; will probably never know the joys of having a family because of it. People like her &amp; Bill Gates probably have a hell of a time finding friends that they can trust...because they would always suspect they're only around them because they are bazillionairres. Oprah doesn't have any kids...just her dogs. You never hear about Bill even having a girlfriend or anything...probably because he's trying to develop that sexbot prototype or something. Anyway, the point is...money really won't make you happy. I know you're rolling your eyes at me right now...and that's okay, I forgive you. Trust is the key thing. You have to be willing to trust to be trustworthy...and that means running the risk of being taken advantage of (remember my little spiel a few days ago?). <strong>Trust is like a flower or something</strong>. It takes a lifetime to build...but only one quick act to destroy. Once you've been burned, it makes it that much harder to grow back too. Anyway, I hope that all of you out there have at least a few people that you can trust...and please, don't take advantage of them. That's today's public service announcement.<br /><br />We arrived in Great Falls, got some Wendy's, checked into our hotel, and basically kicked back and watched TV. It was already kind of late...and we'd been in the car for something like eleven hours. Didn't want to take it anywhere else that night. We watched "<strong>What Lies Beneath</strong>" with Harrison Ford &amp; Michelle Pfeiffer. I hadn't seen it in a few years...and my mom had never seen it. It's pretty good. I really like the slow, dramatic suspense, especially during the last half-hour or the movie. It's more psychological than anything else...and big ups to director Robert Zemeckis, who did "Back to the Future" and others. Yeah, slept pretty good that night.</p><br />It is at this point...that I have to stop yapping about my journey...because <strong>my blog's memory is full</strong>...and I need to format a new one over the next couple of days to tell you about all the sights of Great Falls &amp; continue my incessant ramblings. It's probably a good thing because I found out last night that my brother &amp; sister-in-law are going through some serious drama right now...and I don't want to bring you guys down too. Seriously though, <strong>see what happens to them when I leave town for a WEEK?</strong> How are those kids gonna survive when I move to Vegas (whenever the Hell that'll be)? So I'll check in with you ladies &amp; gentlemen in a few days, wish me &amp; my family luck with their drama, and I'll update you as soon as I can with what I can...mostly about my trip and other positive stuff because that's what I'm all about. It's been great hollerin' at ya for the past year or so on this blog...and I hope that you all join me over on my new one. I'll have a link to it soon. Promise. In the meantime, feel free to check out some of my past entries. I think they're pretty good...but I'm kind of partial. Have a great time everybody!!! See ya soon!!!$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-68810813929178601322008-07-22T14:41:00.020-06:002008-07-22T16:58:30.964-06:00Part 3 - Wild WyomingGood Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />Well, it's almost to that point...where I've put simply too many photos from my trips (and of my adorable nieces &amp; nephew) onto this blog so I'm in the mid-90's percentage wise on my blog's capacity...so it's almost time to announce a winner of the <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/06/be-next-betsy-ross-or-ross-betsy.html"><strong>Ultimate Challenge</strong> </a>for my new blog and lord and/or ladyship in the Land of $tevonia. I may be able to finish up my trip on this blog...but we shall see what the webgods decide. By the way, still awaiting word from Vegas on the big job/move...but I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, back to my latest trip...<br /><br /><strong>Day 6 - Gillette to Cody</strong><br /><br />So I had a rough night sleeping because of being a fairly light sleeper and thunderstorms and Gladiator dreams...but after a shower, I was fresh and ready for the day. We drove across the state of Wyoming and through the Big Horn Mountain Range of the Rockies. We stopped and got a little breakfast at <strong>Taco John's</strong>, which has been around since 1969. Funny little tidbit from my mom - My aunt worked at the FIRST Taco John's back in 1970. You probably don't care...but that's just an example of some of the little tidbits that I learned during this trip that were kind of cool...at least to me...almost forty years later. Anyway, here are some pictures of our drive...<br /><br />Our first real stop for the day was the city of<strong> Thermopolis</strong>. I know, it sounds like a made-up city where Lava Man would have come from or something...but it's home of the world's largest mineral hot spring...as these pictures will back up...<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225943318592015026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZHwpEAyrI/AAAAAAAAG6U/Qu4uX6eT0T0/s320/DSC03109.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225943326989065138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZHxIWBm7I/AAAAAAAAG6c/JIJUxDs5t4w/s320/DSC03112.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225943330297172290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZHxUqvUUI/AAAAAAAAG6k/DQ_AI_Z7u6s/s320/DSC03115.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Shall we go on the bridge swaying in the wind?</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225944039191550610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZIalgVGpI/AAAAAAAAG60/YsS-c_rrqQ4/s320/DSC03118.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225944050353629090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZIbPFk56I/AAAAAAAAG68/T-0IBMNyBwg/s320/DSC03121.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225944061924334562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZIb6MP2-I/AAAAAAAAG7E/2qC9TFUwMqE/s320/DSC03122.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225944071477688882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZIcdx8ejI/AAAAAAAAG7Q/tOvLELktUlI/s320/DSC03125.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225944598503479634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZI7JGr2VI/AAAAAAAAG7c/S4YjAj0wo58/s320/DSC03129.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225944033335588210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZIaPsKNXI/AAAAAAAAG6s/XmLraQ-i4Zo/s320/DSC03117.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">A pot that has been capped over by time &amp; calcite deposits</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225947050613492578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZLJ37RS2I/AAAAAAAAG-M/0WgHnELYdL0/s320/DSC03173.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">My mom likes to headbutt things</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225944601799399890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZI7VYfmdI/AAAAAAAAG7k/kg-ujQbMUKc/s320/DSC03133.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">I just like to ride 'em. Show 'em who's boss.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225944609877455106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZI7zec8QI/AAAAAAAAG7s/A0OpP3idGos/s320/DSC03134.JPG" border="0" /><br />Also in Thermopolis, there was the <strong><a href="http://www.wyodino.org/">Wyoming Dinosaur Center</a></strong>...where they excavate &amp; set up full skeletons of some of the coolest dinosaurs ever. Now, as a child, I was a <strong>HUGE Dinosaur geek</strong>. Like really huge. Like...I still remembered all the names of the dinosaurs walking through the center...without having thought about them since the late 80's...kind of a dinosaur geek. Like...I still have dinosaur sheets at my mom's house for when I have kids...kind of a dinosaur geek. So this was really cool to me. Here are some pictures...<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225944620659037522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZI8bo-1VI/AAAAAAAAG70/6AndINyJXOk/s320/DSC03137.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225946490452959106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZKpRKl34I/AAAAAAAAG90/CjPQlvL9rus/s320/DSC03168.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Archeopteryx Fossil</p><p align="center">A feathered flying reptile</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225945161558729106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZJb6phIZI/AAAAAAAAG8U/1NvQGWY8Gn0/s320/DSC03142.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Imagine if pigeons &amp; magpies looked like this...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225945168747412994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZJcVbbvgI/AAAAAAAAG8c/9qVvfCAmxMo/s320/DSC03143.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Coelocanth - Thought to be extinct...until found in 1938</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225944623689022626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZI8m7YvKI/AAAAAAAAG78/vKJacErYpz8/s320/DSC03139.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Dimitrodon - "Sailed Lizard"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225945143582606338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZJa3rrRAI/AAAAAAAAG8E/spU9zNe7Tow/s320/DSC03140.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">This one looks like Sara from "Land Before Time"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225945848906687186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZKD7OCotI/AAAAAAAAG80/5TWNIbgyyLY/s320/DSC03149.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225945867364151042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZKE_-pLwI/AAAAAAAAG9E/bX1PsqBBBFk/s320/DSC03153.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">One of my favorites as a kid, Anklyosaurus</p><p align="center">Like a turtle / pitbull with a dense ball on his tail</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225945858738878690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZKEf2N-OI/AAAAAAAAG88/mHzVmE0Cc5Q/s320/DSC03152.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Stegosaurus</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225945178195696562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZJc4oFG7I/AAAAAAAAG8k/bmAk4GmcYa0/s320/DSC03146.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225945153567443778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZJbc4Py0I/AAAAAAAAG8M/5pnHz_ZZSAQ/s320/DSC03141.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225945844249588354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZKDp3s8oI/AAAAAAAAG8s/1gZRF8lxiRY/s320/DSC03147.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Triceratops &amp; a Tyrannosaurus Rex are nothing...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225945872921611410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZKFUrpTJI/AAAAAAAAG9M/N0EGwB3WsHE/s320/DSC03155.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Compared to this Supersaurus - Over 106 feet long</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225946472884270050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZKoPt48-I/AAAAAAAAG9U/JfLRIgYlHho/s320/DSC03160.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225946476900644322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZKoerd9eI/AAAAAAAAG9c/CMN4zGAQXmY/s320/DSC03163.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Just look at those balls!!!</p><p align="center">Wait, I'm being told that is actually it's pelvis. My bad.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225946480957589394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZKotyuB5I/AAAAAAAAG9k/ACAq8BwPrbs/s320/DSC03165.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Maybe they are evolved from birds...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225946489182053890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZKpMblZgI/AAAAAAAAG9s/qQI55edyEls/s320/DSC03166.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225947038066579810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZLJJL2mWI/AAAAAAAAG98/SjsiEMYmc_k/s320/DSC03169.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Don't judge me. They wouldn't let me ride the others.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225947046726706082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZLJpclo6I/AAAAAAAAG-E/Cyy1tfGCZkw/s320/DSC03171.JPG" border="0" /><br />The drive through Wyoming from <strong>Gillette to Thermopolis to Cody</strong> was also quite picturesque...and as you may notice...with a lot of the driving pictures, there are smudges on some of them...and those are to honor the great insects that sacrified themselves upon my rental car's windshield...just to have their moment of fame on my web-based journal. So enjoy...<br /> </p><p align="center">I know it's not supposed to be funny...but it still is</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225942071205333010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZGoCL2iBI/AAAAAAAAG40/eftgzEWySfQ/s320/DSC03080.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Same thing with "Package Liquor" but it still makes me giggle</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225942075613110562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZGoSmv4SI/AAAAAAAAG48/52UmEmpNFk0/s320/DSC03081.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225942105074280354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZGqAW1p6I/AAAAAAAAG5U/czdS_J5uIj4/s320/DSC03088.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225942608926983810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZHHVWrxoI/AAAAAAAAG5c/-cJNJl5WsBk/s320/DSC03089.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225942616552493154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZHHxwv0GI/AAAAAAAAG5k/VCC8bMAVmtU/s320/DSC03090.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225942632295986962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZHIsaSdxI/AAAAAAAAG5s/vmbMoRLQZSU/s320/DSC03095.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225942643520036146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZHJWOT3TI/AAAAAAAAG50/MRQgIZXqn38/s320/DSC03099.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225942099973815154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZGptWyu3I/AAAAAAAAG5M/EpEimQfW7cI/s320/DSC03085.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225943306148336482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZHv6tNU2I/AAAAAAAAG6M/DxmIUPQJMrA/s320/DSC03106.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">The city of Tensleeps was kind of cool</p><p align="center">Named because it was a ten days' ride from anywhere</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225942651216322914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZHJy5P4WI/AAAAAAAAG58/x3QJu99s4Ak/s320/DSC03102.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225943298529352082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZHveUs2ZI/AAAAAAAAG6E/u3NryWfNxTY/s320/DSC03103.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225942087408363234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZGo-i9JuI/AAAAAAAAG5E/OaHYYrbBsQw/s320/DSC03083.JPG" border="0" /><br />In Cody, we checked into our hotel, the <strong><a href="http://www.beartoothinn.com/">Beartooth Inn</a></strong>, which was actually a nice place...and had the <strong>Wyoming Vietnam War Memorial</strong> in its driveway. After checking in, we went and got some comfort food at Bubba's Bar-B-Q in town...and went through a drive-thru liquor store to pick up some beverages for the night...as we called it kind of early...so I typed this up while sipping. I apologize for any spelling errors due to this process...but I'm sure you barely notice that kind of thing (unless you're<strong><a href="http://ninsiana0.livejournal.com/"> JL Clyde</a></strong>). I also didn't sleep well this night. I'm not entirely sure why...but I just didn't. It's not that the bed was uncomfortable or anything...but I basically tossed and turned and woke up with a few pulled muscles in my neck &amp; lower back. Strange.<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225947788015522674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZL0y9nU3I/AAAAAAAAG-s/Set3ORdrNpU/s320/DSC03184.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225947062978996002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZLKl_b5yI/AAAAAAAAG-c/TLi03T3iXXk/s320/DSC03181.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225947785517167362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZL0pp9cwI/AAAAAAAAG-k/S_eH23xAsW8/s320/DSC03183.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225947060521465842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZLKc1g9_I/AAAAAAAAG-U/EndfIdRwG8s/s320/DSC03180.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>Day 7 - Cody<br /></strong><br />I woke up tired...but after a hot shower could move around easily and fresh as a daisy (for the moment). Since it was a bit of a late, slow rise, we missed our complimentary breakfast (they had waffles) and went to Taco John's again. Good eats. Then we walked the main tourist street of Cody called <strong>Sheridan Avenue</strong>. There a lot of souvenior shops, restaurants, and painted bear sculptures. Here are some of the better ones we found...<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225948411820414530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZMZG0SlkI/AAAAAAAAG_c/mR23ZCJO_uk/s320/DSC03196.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">A Cowboy (Buffalo Bill Cody?) and a Young'un</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225948427038717714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZMZ_gndxI/AAAAAAAAG_k/V13nLWLrNiI/s320/DSC03197.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">This bear was just creepy to me</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225948402039130082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZMYiYQB-I/AAAAAAAAG_U/gL1E7LRjG7M/s320/DSC03193.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225948397879220642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZMYS4c2aI/AAAAAAAAG_M/NGCpK1t3y5Q/s320/DSC03191.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225947810023807026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZL2E8zGDI/AAAAAAAAG_E/fL4SHCjfvGk/s320/DSC03190.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Pooh Bear and his Hunny</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225949037859843170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZM9i_uLGI/AAAAAAAAG_0/6PgdAXTMqbE/s320/DSC03199.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225947801407796002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZL1k2lMyI/AAAAAAAAG-8/BpV2y6z8iM8/s320/DSC03188.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Silver Dollar Bar</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225947796445719682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZL1SXh7II/AAAAAAAAG-0/j3ottFPcOdQ/s320/DSC03187.JPG" border="0" /><br />After that, we decided to hit up the <strong><a href="http://www.bbhc.org/">Buffalo Bill Museum &amp; Historical Center</a></strong>, which is five separate museums in one. There's a Natural History Museum, a museum about the life of Buffalo Bill Cody, the Plains Indians, Indian Art, Contemporary Art of the West, a Sculpture Garden, a Firearms Museum, and even an incredibly overpriced restaurant. It was actually a great museum with a lot of interesting things. Basically, <strong>"Buffalo Bill" Cody</strong> was a very accomplished man who fought during the Civil War and was one of the first people to help with Indian Affairs after America constantly broke their agreements with the Plains Indians and basically all the tribes of the time. He often acted as a mediator in their affairs and represented both sides. Later on, his legendary traveling show of the Wild West made him an international celebrity and one of the early movie stars. Comic books were made about him and his mythical adventures (usually just using his name &amp; authors filling in their own adventures). Here are some pictures from his museum, then the others...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225948434457270930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZMabJVmpI/AAAAAAAAG_s/hyMSeylGY2Q/s320/DSC03198.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225949042759404034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZM91P3igI/AAAAAAAAG_8/QYhJDpCbKSs/s320/DSC03201.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225951113024330322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZO2VlfWlI/AAAAAAAAHBU/44BryS2iIwk/s320/DSC03220.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Cody's Hefner Robe &amp; Horny Lounge Chair</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225951123621336466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZO29EA1ZI/AAAAAAAAHBc/3EaiVyLVjH4/s320/DSC03222.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">An example of comic strips starring Buffalo Bill</p><p align="center">I like the chesty cowgirls...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225951096077774370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZO1WdHbiI/AAAAAAAAHBM/Q6-06qgat0o/s320/DSC03217.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225949048615136706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZM-LD-7cI/AAAAAAAAHAE/wAoJQ5AX1RY/s320/DSC03202.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">BEARS!!!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225950499375699554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZOSnkQVmI/AAAAAAAAHAk/SffBy1agQDs/s320/DSC03210.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">My money's on the one with skin</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225949058231372946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZM-u4rDJI/AAAAAAAAHAM/86FOrQVCyfY/s320/DSC03203.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">I was called a Yellow-Bellied Marmot once...</p><p align="center">I had no idea they were so cute.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225949093653672450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZNAy2AcgI/AAAAAAAAHAU/OHSLB7DQehE/s320/DSC03204.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"For God's sake, put a shirt on..."</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225950525151418418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZOUHlqmDI/AAAAAAAAHA8/03GnDQUYm7k/s320/DSC03214.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">The Buffalo Jump</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225950507842562562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZOTHG6agI/AAAAAAAAHAs/nt92wljW80k/s320/DSC03212.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225950519464908450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZOTyZ5VqI/AAAAAAAAHA0/OdQ39KfJlP4/s320/DSC03213.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">I may have found a way to combat fuel prices</p><p align="center">during my move to Vegas...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225950532077065474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZOUhY3lQI/AAAAAAAAHBE/amwt5SzZlF8/s320/DSC03216.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Sooooo many rifles at the Firearms Museum</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225951134626750866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZO3mD6IZI/AAAAAAAAHBk/kHqqiZ8lTSM/s320/DSC03224.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Some of their handiwork...these are Caribou</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225951144355384306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZO4KTZS_I/AAAAAAAAHBs/rzFetMZVUcg/s320/DSC03227.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">A Native American (I forget the tribe) hut</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225951834399419282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZPgU6tq5I/AAAAAAAAHCE/Cx_d8Wm_WiY/s320/DSC03236.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">I really liked this painting</p><p align="center">Looking at your past...and wondering what happened</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225951840271388034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZPgqyszYI/AAAAAAAAHCM/rYyIfLRVcIM/s320/DSC03237.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Painting of the Buffalo Jump</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225952438316364706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZQDeru86I/AAAAAAAAHCk/fG667mHcmuU/s320/DSC03243.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225951846021681378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZPhANrUOI/AAAAAAAAHCU/0iAURNP1YfU/s320/DSC03239.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225952427934596626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZQC4AhvhI/AAAAAAAAHCc/-VVetYQPnW4/s320/DSC03242.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">On the way to Gillette, there was a GORGEOUS hitchhiker</p><p align="center">that kind of looked like this...but we didn't pick her up</p><p align="center">Mostly because my mom was driving, we were heading downhill,</p><p align="center">and for a hitchhiker to be that hot...she had to be a serial killer.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225952441190137042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZQDpY5PNI/AAAAAAAAHCs/tc0w51rm0nY/s320/DSC03244.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"He is here. $teve Comes with a Thunder has come...with a thunder."</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225951824131649362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZPfuqr71I/AAAAAAAAHB8/fRWyl-ZmD6M/s320/DSC03231.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225951810647753810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZPe8b4BFI/AAAAAAAAHB0/O6GHUIxev3A/s320/DSC03230.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />About the time I got through the Plains Indians museum, <strong>I started to feel really sad</strong>. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was that JL Clyde had told me that she was sad earlier in the day. Maybe it was the Ottawa in me crying out for all the horrible things done to the Native Americans over the years. Suddenly though, I felt like crying a little bit...but didn't want to...because I really was having a great time. Why was I sad then? Was I being hormonal or something? Maybe. I sat down a few times (because my mom takes about four times longer to view a museum than I do apparently) and during that time, I thought about times in my life, what my future holds, and that my attitude towards life was a lot like the people that I was reading about...and hearing about their struggle. I have simple needs, love nature, love my family, want to find a squaw and raise my own family, and avoid conflict whenever possible...but will attack if my trust is broken or you threaten my family. Love, Friendship, Family, Thankfulness, these things rule my life. When I'm involved in something that I'm passionate about, I tend to talk with my hands a LOT. I've noticed that I do that less and less...and it bothers me. The things that I enjoy doing the most, I tend to do less and less.<br /><br />Sometimes I also wonder, am I being taken advantage of by some people? Am I too easy-going? Should I stand up for stuff more...even if I really don't care what the outcome is or have all the information? I don't want to be like my marginal ancestors where they let it be, let it be, let it be, and give more and more and more, then when they realize that they're being taken advantage of or betrayed...are simply too weak to resist or too late to do anything about it. Do I bend too much like a tree in the wind...and eventually I'll break? Am I not being true to myself? Should I be doing more for others? Am I thinking too much about material possessions...and not enough about those around me? Okay, probably not that last one...because I'm always there for my peeps...but you know, I wasn't in a good mood at the time. Anyway, I got over it when I took a little nap / quiet time back at the hotel.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZQMT9N7SI/AAAAAAAAHC8/OrR7NXwQJeM/s1600-h/knight.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225952590055730466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZQMT9N7SI/AAAAAAAAHC8/OrR7NXwQJeM/s320/knight.jpg" border="0" /></a>Then I watched the best movie that I've seen in a long, long time...and it's "<strong>The Dark Knight</strong>", the latest Batman movie...and it's everything that you want in a Batman movie...but dark, edgy, gritty, and realistic. I had to take a leak for that last...I'd say hour or so of this movie...and I kept telling myself that I'd scurry out of there the instant that it started to slow down or drag a bit for plot. I ended up holding it until the end of the movie (don't worry, everything still works great). Christian Bale was excellent as Batman again. Heath Ledger was creepy...and funny...and just a hoot as that crazy sum'bich Joker. Aaron Eckhart was convincing...and menacing...and everything you could hope for as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. Gary Oldman was Gary Oldman as always. Incredible. Even Maggie Jelly Belly was okay...and there were special appearances by the likes of William Fichtner, Michael Jai White, and Tiny Lister...and magic tricks. However, it's was very dark...and I wouldn't highly recommend it for little kids...but whatever, it's Batman...and a lot of the violence is implied (or cut completely waiting for the special director's cut). Great flick. Best movie of the year...probably last few years. Check it out if you aren't one of the MILLIONS to check it out already this weekend.<br /><br />After the show, we headed over to the <strong>Silver Dollar Bar</strong> on Sheridan Avenue for some appetizers, microbrew beverages, and people watching...mostly guys in a mid-life crisis with their motorcycles...basically looking ridiculous and trying to be badass. Now, I can't say much...because as you may know, my father is one of these guys...but yeah, Harleys are cool. I like them a lot. However, Harley riders in large numbers...not quite as cool...unless there's a wet T-shirt contest involved...and with young contestants...not the usual ladies that you see on the back of a Harley at these kind of functions...which tend to happen all around the past few states that we've been in over this week. Anyway, there was a band there too...so we had a good time, then I hit the hot tub to relieve those sore muscles...and went to bed. It was going to be an early morning for the next portion of our trip.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225952451348460946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIZQEPO09ZI/AAAAAAAAHC0/mR_ZvkvLa8s/s320/DSC03245.JPG" border="0" /><br />So again, I'll leave you for the day...and hopefully you enjoy my pictures...and are considering seeing some of these sights for yourself. Now, just a little heads up...but the next entry has Yellowstone...and it's well worth it. I'll try to get that to you as soon as possible...and we'll see how the memory on this blog holds out. I think I'm at 95% right now...and we still have a week to go on this trip (but the last few days have yet to happen &amp; are stuck here in Great Falls). Have a great night everybody!!!$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-67716175893718931062008-07-22T08:47:00.023-06:002008-07-22T11:48:40.061-06:00Part 2 - Black Hills, South DakotaGood Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />When we last left $teve &amp; his mother, they were fighting off bed bugs &amp; biker zombies at the <strong>Town House Motel</strong> in lovely Lusk, Wyoming.<br /><br /><strong>Day 4 - Lusk to Custer</strong><br /><br /><strong>Lusk</strong> just sounded like a dirty, sexy, smelly kind of town...and the perfect city for a motel...like a mix of Lust &amp; Musk into an entirely new kind of memorable experience...but I was with my mother instead of a beautiful young cowgirl...so nothing of that sort...just sleeping, waking, &amp; getting out of town to see the <strong>sacred Black Hills of South Dakota</strong>. The town of Lusk was pretty nice...and I didn't get any bed bug bites...and only had to fight off one biker zombie, but he was drunk, so no match for my machete. After a beautiful few hours drive, we arrived at our first stop in the area, <strong><a href="http://www.mammothsite.com/">the Mammoth Site</a></strong>. This is a location where an sinkhole was made about 50,000 years ago...and a number of Mammoths fell into this sinkhole because it was a mineral spring with slate sides...so they would slip in...and die of exhaustion or drowning. <strong>Of the 56 mammoths that they found, every last one of them was male.</strong> Why? Allegedly, they were the non-alpha males that were thrown out of the herd and had to fend for themselves...so they found an easy meal, then fell in. I think they were pushed in by the females in a prehistoric form of "breaking up" but that's just my theory. Here are some pictures...<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225850772314139266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIXzlvT8KoI/AAAAAAAAGss/EyhI1wQXEGo/s320/DSC02830.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225850780879182050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIXzmPOAWOI/AAAAAAAAGs0/1VKfUzNVbdw/s320/DSC02832.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225850788977030482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIXzmtYrtVI/AAAAAAAAGs8/kRpnEr4dgvY/s320/DSC02835.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">One of my favorite proverbs...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225851463677475362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX0N-1zeiI/AAAAAAAAGtE/-vlgz9dx6Cg/s320/DSC02836.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Here's a chart about the sinkhole...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225851469115561298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX0OTGWFVI/AAAAAAAAGtM/FMuPK9-z6Co/s320/DSC02837.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225852087815496018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX0yT754VI/AAAAAAAAGts/XXMbKEalLAk/s320/DSC02847.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225851481769176786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX0PCPM7tI/AAAAAAAAGtc/kPnd_PE69Iw/s320/DSC02842.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225851496346960434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX0P4i0QjI/AAAAAAAAGtk/JF0zAB0T3Mc/s320/DSC02844.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225851478311279906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX0O1WxnSI/AAAAAAAAGtU/DG0J__FXayw/s320/DSC02838.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225852101569545970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX0zHLIBvI/AAAAAAAAGt0/RJuUIgn0R3U/s320/DSC02848.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Did you know that there were American Lions?</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225852110207793138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX0znWpN_I/AAAAAAAAGt8/cnrUd2-yWoE/s320/DSC02852.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">How about Giant Short-Faced Bears?</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225852122057462626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX00Tf002I/AAAAAAAAGuE/lXc06ncZCeQ/s320/DSC02856.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Is it just me...or does this Sabre-Tooth Tiger</p><p align="center">Look like Patrick Stewart?</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225852901446486178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX1hq8piKI/AAAAAAAAGus/MYD3YgT3kg8/s320/DSC02864.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225852896256276578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX1hXnNOGI/AAAAAAAAGuk/GK9pZJ0vXBI/s320/DSC02863.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225852130244232658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX00x_tBdI/AAAAAAAAGuM/XFUiPaslRVI/s320/DSC02857.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Not a bad hut...and uses all-natural materials</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225852884819876098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX1gtAjmQI/AAAAAAAAGuU/Qn1wrA1eJLU/s320/DSC02858.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Utah - We've got fresh Mammoth Dung</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225852888682931042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX1g7ZlI2I/AAAAAAAAGuc/iPXwveT2sfk/s320/DSC02861.JPG" border="0" /><br />Afterwards, we drove through the city of <strong>Hot Springs</strong> and had a wonderful Mexican meal for lunch. I had Blanket Tacos, which were basically double-decker tacos from Taco Bells...but handmade &amp; delicious.<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225853424657336530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX2AID1iNI/AAAAAAAAGu8/1ZqHX5dMffc/s320/DSC02868.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225853447478219906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX2BdEwlII/AAAAAAAAGvM/PZDWdt0auzk/s320/DSC02871.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225852906441848754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX1h9jot7I/AAAAAAAAGu0/zepZYVGzcj0/s320/DSC02866.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225853436181455826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX2Ay_Zo9I/AAAAAAAAGvE/BT3UkftQElQ/s320/DSC02870.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225853484815571730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX2DoKrWxI/AAAAAAAAGvU/tS6mGsjPJ1M/s320/DSC02874.JPG" border="0" /><br />Our next stop was to the city of <strong>Custer</strong> and the<strong><a href="http://www.blackhills.com/woodcarving/"> National Museum of Woodcarving</a></strong>. Don't give me that look. It sounded mildly interesting...and my mom really wanted to go...and who was I to tell her no? It was actually kind of cool (and cheap) so here are the pictures from that...<br /> </p><p align="center">"Where Wood Comes Alive"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225853488720770658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX2D2tv9mI/AAAAAAAAGvc/gpd6ju19V6Q/s320/DSC02876.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Most of these things moved...but pictures don't really show it</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854080253327362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX2mSWGeAI/AAAAAAAAGvk/ucUW1CSpvFg/s320/DSC02878.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854084073662498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX2mgk8KCI/AAAAAAAAGvs/4heHQyT32iQ/s320/DSC02883.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Shotgun Wedding</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854094856665250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX2nIvzuKI/AAAAAAAAGv0/-SiJ8ufCXI8/s320/DSC02885.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854106971052882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX2n14Gm1I/AAAAAAAAGv8/6CWbvkZ2fIg/s320/DSC02886.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Not sure what this is...but it was titled "Wife"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854764596211170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX3OHuKLeI/AAAAAAAAGwU/IcrpZKKkd5g/s320/DSC02894.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854759233918946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX3NzvsF-I/AAAAAAAAGwM/ftFpS5hvM0A/s320/DSC02892.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">This was my favorite one...and I'm not sure why</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854109690260386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX2oAAaa6I/AAAAAAAAGwE/EHEwaSZjDAU/s320/DSC02887.JPG" border="0" /><br />The highlight of the day...was definitely our next stop, <strong><a href="http://www.crazyhorse.org/">the Crazy Horse Memorial</a></strong>. My mom had never heard of this...but I had seen it on the Travel Channel or something...and it was even better than that I thought. Basically, in 1948, Mount Rushmore had been erected...and the Native Americans wanted a monument for them in the Black Hills. So they talked to a famous sculptor named <strong>Korczak Ziolkowski</strong> and told him that they wanted to turn one of their sacred Black Hills into the largest man-made monument in the world...in the form of the legendary warrior chief Crazy Horse. Over the next 60 years, he &amp; his family have slowly but surely widdled away at this mountain (some 80 million tons of rock so far, mostly in the last twenty years after Korczak passed away but his legacy lives on) and it's really starting to take form. It's amazing to me that this guy &amp; his family have such a burning Passion for this monument. It's truly their life's work...and he &amp; his wife in particular for the first thirty years or so, he was going up &amp; down the ladder, blasting up the mountain by himself, while she was home watching their ten children...out in the middle of nowhere (though it's a beautiful area) and that's just amazing. So much Love &amp; Passion for what they do...<strong>it makes me wonder if I'm going to have a legacy</strong> (besides my ideas helping Pandas to reproduce). The story is truly legendary...and I haven't even started talking about Crazy Horse...so if you're interested, check out <strong><a href="http://www.crazyhorse.org/">this link</a></strong>...but basically, he was a warrior who never signed a treaty with the white man but didn't attack them until they broke their promises on his predecessors' treaties. Then he kicked some ass...and was stabbed in the back by an American soldier under a flag of peace.<br /> </p><p align="center">A scale model and the memorial in progress in the back</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854771819750050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX3OioYoqI/AAAAAAAAGwc/KJpkFwOmE7A/s320/DSC02900.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854780192087794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX3PB0gXvI/AAAAAAAAGwk/90RHgmrb4Ew/s320/DSC02902.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225855371955646850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX3xeT7sYI/AAAAAAAAGxM/LzeHWQdZ6FU/s320/DSC02913.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225855375352009682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX3xq9sE9I/AAAAAAAAGxU/Dc-inXxL924/s320/DSC02916.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Crazy Horse...and Crazy Woman</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225856379550673362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX4sH5TqdI/AAAAAAAAGxc/Uh2AmlMEJG0/s320/DSC02920.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Crazy Horse, Crazy Woman, &amp; $teve</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225856382361565458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX4sSXeeRI/AAAAAAAAGxk/yCYelmtLCbc/s320/DSC02921.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225856393287614274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX4s7Ecv0I/AAAAAAAAGxs/_z-LE8b0LDU/s320/DSC02922.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225855339618162994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX3vl2E2TI/AAAAAAAAGw0/WUUna_wwxhY/s320/DSC02905.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Korzcak Kiolkowski - The Sculptor</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225854787256700882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX3PcI1z9I/AAAAAAAAGws/tVXbOd1nkbk/s320/DSC02903.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Ambitious plans for the monument</p><p align="center">Yes, that is an airport &amp; a university</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225855363006169186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX3w8-NgGI/AAAAAAAAGxE/2cgo46Dr4uQ/s320/DSC02909.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">This guy lived to be 125 years old</p><p align="center">What was his secret? Froggy style, four times a day</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225855350323847650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX3wNugoeI/AAAAAAAAGw8/Br9idXgogQY/s320/DSC02906.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">In Sioux tradition, a man would stake himself to the ground</p><p align="center">and defend himself for days from attacking animals until the tribe</p><p align="center">said "Okay, you're a man now!"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225856401536904466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX4tZzO7RI/AAAAAAAAGx0/vcfg6P3-tyY/s320/DSC02924.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225857304679597058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX5h-ROxAI/AAAAAAAAGyE/BB3vk6uH24c/s320/DSC02927.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Billy Mills - Olympic Native American Champion</p><p align="center">1964 Tokyo Games</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225857311722761874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX5iYgc7pI/AAAAAAAAGyM/ZWhhYqT1g5g/s320/DSC02929.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225856406206165954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX4trMeM8I/AAAAAAAAGx8/HYxMwqLVK0U/s320/DSC02926.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225857320175234322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX5i3_rbRI/AAAAAAAAGyU/qef4Njv1hSA/s320/DSC02931.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"Fighting Stallions" not Wyld Stallyns</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225857322906509810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX5jCK3YfI/AAAAAAAAGyc/EWxChy4Rg4g/s320/DSC02937.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225857327411131714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX5jS82dUI/AAAAAAAAGyk/k8EMhSIz3uE/s320/DSC02938.JPG" border="0" /><br />The exhibits in the museum are an incredible collection of Native American artifacts, artwork, historical pictures &amp; documents, and basically makes me proud to be 1/8th Ottawa (finally realized that if my great-grandmother was Ottawa, it makes me 1/8th not 1/16th. I suck at fractions). There's also other great sculptures from Korczak, a 1/34th scale model of the final vision, restaurants, tour buses up to the base of the mountain, and a <strong>laser light show in the evening</strong> (pictures didn't turn out well...but it's almost as good as Laser Zeppelin...but on a grander scale). I highly encourage EVERYBODY to go check this out...and donate to the cause. They refuse to take government funding...because they don't want anything from them to make it a government entity. Sure, it'd help them build it quicker...but they believe the idea will grow without government assistance...and I believe them too. I hope that within my lifetime, they'll be able to finish it up. It'll truly be a majestic sight for centuries to come. In fact, if you're ever in the Black Hills, forget Mount Rushmore, go check out Crazy Horse. All four Presidents' heads...will fit inside Crazy Horse's head. It's that big...and that amazing...and it's even cheaper (because it's not paying for government) and the proceeds go directly to future construction. <strong>With donations, you can also take a piece of the beautiful sparkly stone home with you and own a piece of history</strong>. Let me know if there's any other way that I can convince you to go check this monument out. It's amazing. <a href="http://www.crazyhorse.org/">Check out the website</a>.<br /><br />I wondered <strong>what my name would be if I were raised in the culture of the Native American</strong>. My dad has taught me some traditions and has a lot of stuff around his house...but to my knowledge, I was never given a native name. So I asked my mom about my birth...and she told me that it was a stormy day with lots of wind &amp; thunder which started about the time that she went into labor. Based on that evidence alone, I believe that my name would have been...<strong>$teve Comes with a Thunder</strong>!!! Tell me that isn't sexy. The best part about the name...is that it's true.<br /><br />After that, we drove to the <strong>Bavarian Inn</strong> and got a room. It was pretty nice &amp; reasonably priced. There was also a German restaurant where we had some Jager Schnitzel, Beef Rouladen, and Spatzel. It was delicious. Here are some pictures...<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225857901971878834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX6EvWzs7I/AAAAAAAAGy0/vZQJcFnTLog/s320/DSC02942.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225857892478654850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX6EL_cmYI/AAAAAAAAGys/WgKz-YJttUk/s320/DSC02940.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225858529046349554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX6pPZAxvI/AAAAAAAAGzU/PaEm442mJpQ/s320/DSC02965.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then we went to the light show at Crazy Horse and it was awesome...and free with the purchase earlier. For twenty bucks, it's the best deal in the Black Hills. I can't stress that enough. It's worth the drive or flight out there. I'm glad that Minot got cancelled...because I would have missed out on it. See? Things happen for a reason. When we got back, I got a call from <strong>Bubbles</strong>...and she was feeling better now with the medication for her sinus infection (and I like to think that my sexy, soothing voice helped out a bit) and was feeling much better. Great day!!! Great trip so far!!! Slept very well.<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225857913510559522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX6FaV1_yI/AAAAAAAAGzE/uUiTA8SBb7Y/s320/DSC02952.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225857915113096258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX6FgT6xEI/AAAAAAAAGzM/uMn2qltFqRI/s320/DSC02956.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225857904073123458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX6E3LyJoI/AAAAAAAAGy8/TTgDdYv3O9w/s320/DSC02947.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>Day 5 - Custer to Gillette</strong><br /><br />We had a wonderful continental breakfast at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant, then did a driveby of <strong>Mount Rushmore</strong>...because they were charging $20 for parking &amp; another $20 for entrance...so we just drove by slowly and used my 3x zoom on the camera. Then we drove to our first stop for the day, <strong><a href="http://www.cosmosmysteryarea.com/">the Cosmos Mystery Area</a></strong>, which I had been to when I came here fifteen years ago...and my mom was there...but she swore that she had never been there before (Alzheimer's?). Anyway, we went...and it's a goofy place where through mystical magnetization or just poor craftsmanship, things are not as they seem...and the floors inside the building are really really steep. Anyway, you be the judge...and decide for yourselves. Here are some pictures...<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225858532940060306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX6pd5WFpI/AAAAAAAAGzc/9bT5QK5wa4I/s320/DSC02968.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225858533936552034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX6phm7WGI/AAAAAAAAGzk/zKZ9J9Vp0vQ/s320/DSC02970.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225858543359722594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX6qEtlhGI/AAAAAAAAGzs/dBa2DfxVVgo/s320/DSC02972.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">The Cosmos Mystery Area</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225858551169260546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX6qhzhnAI/AAAAAAAAGz0/7anbPKrK0Nw/s320/DSC02979.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225859243879066914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX7S2WabSI/AAAAAAAAGz8/PhS666sKgjY/s320/DSC02981.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225859248830070274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX7TIy0vgI/AAAAAAAAG0E/EmLN0mvH3oM/s320/DSC02988.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225859259280124738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX7TvuT60I/AAAAAAAAG0M/OqMD0fzjh2c/s320/DSC02992.JPG" border="0" /><br />The next stop was to <strong>Lead</strong> (like the element) where there was the <strong><a href="http://www.presidentspark.com/">President's Sculpture Park</a></strong>...where sculptor David Adickes made twenty-foot busts of all 43 Presidents. So to check it out...and keep myself entertained, I sent a text to <strong>Bubbles &amp; <a href="http://ninsiana0.livejournal.com/">JL Clyde</a></strong><a href="http://ninsiana0.livejournal.com/"> </a>saying "<strong>Pick a President. Any President</strong>." I would get their response...and then send them a picture of me picking that President's nose...which was quite a stretch. Those things were huge. Here are the pictures to prove it...<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225859876641870626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX73rk0kyI/AAAAAAAAG00/iREg6wrcPp0/s320/DSC03008.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225859857276526178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX72jbw3mI/AAAAAAAAG0k/_z-DQ8Ay0b8/s320/DSC03005.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225859867075981042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX73H8IrvI/AAAAAAAAG0s/I6fmH6eY6YE/s320/DSC03006.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225860497798999842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX8b1kOLyI/AAAAAAAAG1M/3igIt-bb4Ok/s320/DSC03011.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Instead of Jeff Goldblum, here Lincoln watches you poop</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225859883607265362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX74FhgEFI/AAAAAAAAG08/0oDXrQAI8bs/s320/DSC03009.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">I really found John Adams quite creepy over the urinals...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225859892438954562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX74mbI8kI/AAAAAAAAG1E/zMXZTaovvXI/s320/DSC03010.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">George Washington...and his wooden nose</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225860502028404034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX8cFUlxUI/AAAAAAAAG1U/qW344zCgTUI/s320/DSC03012.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Thomas Jefferson - He liked the Brown Sugar too</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225860506464173570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX8cV2KPgI/AAAAAAAAG1c/sAL3sSGcYxU/s320/DSC03013.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Andrew Jackson - Best Dressed</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225860517101809762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX8c9eXsGI/AAAAAAAAG1k/uPfKr3UdycQ/s320/DSC03014.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Abraham Lincoln - The Penny Guy</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225861427608961538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX9R9YMQgI/AAAAAAAAG10/4gEnFpupZrU/s320/DSC03018.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">By the way, did you notice that Lincoln's getting head?</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225861452957249266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX9TbzsbvI/AAAAAAAAG2M/5LC_j-J1vpY/s320/DSC03023.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">A field of Presidential Glory</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225860524884697778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX8dad9IrI/AAAAAAAAG1s/_gHe7gXm6yw/s320/DSC03015.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Teddy "Bear" Roosevelt</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225861437711532002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX9SjA1P-I/AAAAAAAAG2E/Eia0uoVdXtU/s320/DSC03021.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">I think this is Taft...but I just liked his moustache &amp; tie</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225861431227269090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX9SK23P-I/AAAAAAAAG18/aAvA06dxhKk/s320/DSC03019.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Tehehe, I'm picking Dubya's nose</p><p align="center">Let it be known that I like to play with Bush</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225861466196286354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX9UNIIG5I/AAAAAAAAG2U/IBs7KLVqMBU/s320/DSC03026.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"My Fellow Americans, it has hit the fan!!!"</p><p align="center">First President to give a speech wearing shades</p><p align="center">"Hey hey hey, can y'all keep it down? I had friends in</p><p align="center">town last night and...well, it got a little out of hand."</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225862396429660306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX-KWhC8JI/AAAAAAAAG2c/USgsAznQlRU/s320/DSC03028.JPG" border="0" /><br />Next stop was the city of <strong>Deadwood</strong>, made legendary by the outlaw nature of its early days during the Gold Rush, the death place of Wild Bill Hickok &amp; Calamity Jane, and the recent HBO series of the same name. We walked around the town, had some lunch at Mustang Sally's (burgers &amp; spicy chicken popcorn balls), and then moved on...but there was plenty of opportunity for gambling...and a lot of bikers &amp; Corvettes for separate gatherings in nearby towns.<br /> </p><p align="center">Saloon #10 - Where "Wild Bill" Hickok was shot</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225862980262314274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX-sVdmQSI/AAAAAAAAG3M/vzJil1z_mVI/s320/DSC03044.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225862428749632018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX-MO6ukhI/AAAAAAAAG20/qTu-0lwRwJY/s320/DSC03038.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225862435157120866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX-MmyZF2I/AAAAAAAAG28/FXAXS_0vPBY/s320/DSC03040.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225862423689963682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX-L8EaKKI/AAAAAAAAG2s/TdGnzM-MDXc/s320/DSC03031.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225862405398804354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX-K37dN4I/AAAAAAAAG2k/p2dYtG0L6Ss/s320/DSC03029.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225862971046520594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX-rzIYZxI/AAAAAAAAG3E/XzQhBym9Ro0/s320/DSC03042.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then we drove by Sturgis...but didn't stop because we had seen it before...and it's not much unless it's backed with Harley riders...so we drove on to our next stop, the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/deto/"><strong>Devils Tower</strong> </a>in Northern Wyoming, about an hour away. Legend has it, that this mountain was formed when a little girl was turned into a giant bear and chased her brothers &amp; sisters around, after destroying their village. The Great Spirit told the children to run around a rock in the middle of a field four times, then the rock lifted high into the air...and the bear tried to climb the sides...but could not get to the children. Eventually, the bear's claws ripped away and...well, I forget how the story ends...but I'm sure everybody was okay...except the other villagers. Looking at the rock, you can see how that's believable...but scientifically speaking, it's vertically striped because of erosion. Enjoy the pictures...<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225859267538085362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX7UOfKZfI/AAAAAAAAG0U/wS2ga-3Kb_E/s320/DSC03000.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225859277511733234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX7UzpEL_I/AAAAAAAAG0c/JXhDTIPz2As/s320/DSC03001.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Is that a shark on the mountains?</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225862983281144946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX-sgtV9HI/AAAAAAAAG3U/mcXBKiD7qJc/s320/DSC03056.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"This is important...this means something."</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225862995776013442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX-tPQWhII/AAAAAAAAG3c/7DWobcZWOhM/s320/DSC03058.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Illustration of the Legend of Devils Tower</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225863683196276786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX_VQGHUDI/AAAAAAAAG30/z34VNZURa-g/s320/DSC03065.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225863000353919378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX-tgTz0ZI/AAAAAAAAG3k/IUasu3KlZl0/s320/DSC03062.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225863675791599682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX_U0gs6EI/AAAAAAAAG3s/jKgPdkga0_Q/s320/DSC03063.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225863688296838722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX_VjGLtkI/AAAAAAAAG38/I28ybaRqRFM/s320/DSC03066.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Prairie Dog Exhibit</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225863783797259586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX_bG3QfUI/AAAAAAAAG4E/BVmIM62ypy0/s320/DSC03067.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225863798131225426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX_b8Qvc1I/AAAAAAAAG4M/WbM7-TmWLOY/s320/DSC03072.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225864381255646850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX_94kb_oI/AAAAAAAAG4U/bWW-fShxPHk/s320/DSC03073.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225864384369111074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX_-EKvsCI/AAAAAAAAG4c/aJ4t8jg_p60/s320/DSC03074.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225864393315247522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX_-lfq5aI/AAAAAAAAG4k/KkvDvj3ASoY/s320/DSC03076.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225864396328142114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIX_-wuABSI/AAAAAAAAG4s/QNeruGVLNiU/s320/DSC03077.JPG" border="0" /><br />For the night, we decided to pull up in the city of <strong>Gillette, Wyoming</strong> but the rooms were really expensive because of a biker's group in town...but we found a Motel 6 that wasn't ridiculous and stayed the night there...were as mentioned in my first entry on this trip, I spent a lot of time writing about the first few days...and actually the majority of this one too...because I think fast &amp; I type fast. Go see the <strong><a href="http://www.crazyhorse.org/">Crazy Horse Monument</a></strong>!!! You owe it to yourself. It's truly awe inspiring. It's like Korczak Ziolkowski said, "Never Forget Your Dreams!!!"<br /><br />Speaking of which, here's <strong>Dream #2</strong> for this trip. Well, in reality, it was a stormy, thunderous night (because <strong>$teve Comes with a Thunder</strong>) and I was laying by the window, so that may have had something to do with it. I was in the middle of a race...which involved me running through this seemingly small Victorian house...with very poor lighting save for a few little spotlights moving about...and I notice that there are rings involved...and a few treadmills...then it hits me...I'm running through a kind of mini-Eliminator, like from American Gladiators with about five other people. Others are fallen (or being thrown, shhh...) and long story short, I win the race. Then there's a choice for me to make...either go up against the male American Gladiators...or the female Gladiatoresses...and so you KNOW that I pick the ladies. So the floor drops to a ramp and I slide downstairs into a basement or something...and then the announcer is calling out some of the Gladiators (actually a mix of guys &amp; gals) and the first one is a girl from my first year of college named Heather, who was really hot, fit, and we had a Physics Lab together that she always wanted to be in my group (cuz brains are sexy?). She starts doing her tough-girl routine and getting in my face then looks surprised, "$teve? Hey, nice to see ya" but then the other gladiators come in.<br /><br />Next is "Raul" who has the tennis ball blaster mounted on his shoulder, gives out a yell, and starts firing at me, so I slap the balls away (cuz it's my dream) and snagging a few out of the air...and throwing them back at him. After a while, he throws down the blaster and returns fire by hand. Then the next one's called in named "Olga" and she's doing backflips &amp; cartwheels and stuff...but then slips or something...and CRACK, lands on the ground oddly. I run over to make sure she's okay (as does everybody else). "Are you okay, Olga?" "Ow." "Okay, stay still, the stretcher's on its way." Medics show up and cart her off...and Heather's sad, so I give her a shoulder to cry on. "Oh my God, she's paralyzed." "Now, it's okay. They're looking at her...and she was talking. That's a good sign." "She wasn't moving though." "That's because we asked her not to. Another good sign. She was thinking clearly. It's gonna be okay." Then Raul comes over and says that the show's cancelled for a few hours. "Wanna get a coffee or something?" $teve wakes up because somebody started up their Harley by the window. Damn first floor rooms.<br /><br />Anyway, that'll do it for tonight. Tomorrow, we go to other cities in Wyoming...which is actually surprisingly beautiful in the northern part. We've already driven over 1200 miles now...and have many more to go. Have a great day everybody...and I'll update you on the trip as soon as I can.</p>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-34889242665580019332008-07-20T19:19:00.018-06:002008-07-21T17:42:36.157-06:00Part 1 - Denver AdventureGood Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />Hello everybody, just shacked up here in Gillette, Wyoming during a Biker Rally with nowhere to go when I typed this up, but then loading the pictures was a pain. So now I'm in Great Falls and I thought I'd catch you up on the first few days of the trip...so up until about a week ago. By the way, Happy Birthday to <strong>Bubbles</strong> today!!! Hope you enjoy. How do I start? Well, the night before starting this vacation, I was driving home from work when I got a text message from <strong><a href="http://ninsiana0.livejournal.com/">JL Clyde</a></strong>, who was hanging with her friend <strong>Esther</strong>. They asked if I had any plans, I didn't &amp; offered them to come hang out for a while. "Do you have Klondike bars?" "As a matter of fact, I do. Peanut butter cup Klondike bars." A little odd of a request...but they came over and we played Rock Band. Yes, that's two RB parties on consecutive nights. After a few hours, the girls wanted to watch "<strong>a scary movie...but nothing gory or violent</strong>." Quite the request...especially for a scary movie made in the last, I don't know, 50 years...and we had already watched the black &amp; white ones a few months back. Then I remembered a movie that wasn't violent...but pretty damn scary...and starred Coach. That's right, I'm talking about "<strong>Poltergeist</strong>" with Craig T. Nelson. By the way, is there a Craig A. Nelson who's famous that I don't know about...or is the T for Trustworthy or something, like Jack T. Colton? Anyway, it's a great flick, really scary (especially for being PG) if you get into it, and be the time it was over...the clock said 2:30 AM...and I had to be up around 7 AM to start my two-week journey...but it was worth it.<br /><br /><strong>Day 1 - Slick City to Cheyenne to Denver</strong><br /><br />I woke up around 7:10 AM on my own. As I was thinking to myself, "Should I get up &amp; get going?" The phone rang...and it was my mom telling me that she was about 45 minutes away. I guess that answered that. So I woke up, got ready, and we went off to get the rental car. My mom said that we had to go to <strong>Fox Rent-A-Car</strong> to pick it up. "Fox? I've never heard of them. Where are they? (Address) Ugh...that's by dad's house. Are you renting a car from a chop shop?" Okay, so I had never heard of them...but apparently they're a legitimate business that started April 1st, so just really new. They upgraded us to a Chrysler 300 (cuz I'm hot &amp; charming, that's why) and we started our epic journey.<br /><br />Along the drive, mom &amp; I entertained ourselves by talking about this &amp; that. She would tell stories about the first time she drove out to places like <strong>Evanston</strong>...and oddly enough, it was for her brother's wedding...and she was at his daughter's (her niece, my cousin) wedding earlier this week. Weird, right? I told her about the trips that I used to ride along with to get fireworks, high-point beer, &amp; low-grade porn. Seriously, I don't think there's more reason for that city to be in existence besides that &amp; the occasional rodeo. Great little town though. We stopped there &amp; got some Mickey D's for breakfast (because Wendy's wasn't open yet). As the drive continued, we talked about gas prices, family, me moving to Vegas, her 50th birthday coming up, my brother's birthday coming up, road signs along the way, what we were going to do on the trip, songs on the radio, why country singers have to cover EVERY song, and just about anything else that came to mind. You know how you are with family &amp; nothing better to do...so here are some pictures of the drive...<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225272541807030978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPlsS0CssI/AAAAAAAAGk0/0NasIkj_EVc/s320/DSC02654.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225272548108675778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPlsqSeKsI/AAAAAAAAGk8/okbfbyG8X7Y/s320/DSC02657.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Not going to lie, this was the view most</p><p align="center">of the way through Wyoming</p><p align="center">P.S. There are going to be a lot of pictures taken at 80-90 MPH</p><p align="center">during this trip. Please forgive the fogginess of it all...and bug stains</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225272562247111682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPlte9VlAI/AAAAAAAAGlM/M81CYsxFaoI/s320/DSC02662.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225274244102010802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPnPYWyt7I/AAAAAAAAGlc/b41bSCnU-FY/s320/DSC02666.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Not sure why my mom wanted me to take this picture</p><p align="center">Wait, two round boulders with a tower-like rock in the middle?</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225272554935234578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPltDuDMBI/AAAAAAAAGlE/y0AzT0PFO2w/s320/DSC02658.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225272567540264994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPltyrUsCI/AAAAAAAAGlU/fiWghKsWR1E/s320/DSC02665.JPG" border="0" /><br />We stopped in <strong>Laramie</strong> because my mom wanted to "rest her eyes" and pulled into the parking lot of <strong>Bart's Flea Market</strong>. By the way, in case you were wondering, it's basically impossible for me to take a nap when my mother's driving...because she'll randomly slam on the brakes for no reason...or one of the cataracts jumps on the road or something...so I keep her entertained...and <strong>Gawk Block</strong> her so that she keeps her eyes on the road. I went inside because I had to pee...but then I noticed there was some cool stuff in there. Mostly old Americana stuff and overpriced junk...but I did find a present for my niece Kairi. For those who don't know (or haven't seen my bedroom pictures), <strong>I like Winnie the Pooh</strong>...and have a few plush toys of them...and was even <strong>called Pooh Bear</strong> by the U of U women's basketball team for over a year (story I may tell you if you ask nicely) but I was walking around...and saw what looked like an old fuzzy plush of Pooh Bear himself. So I walked up, gave him a squeeze, and he started singing "Up, down, touch the ground..." and I basically jumped around with giddy joy (on the inside because I was in public) as he did a whole verse of the song. Tehehehe. I checked the price...five bucks. Headed for the register...and the checkout lady (maybe fifty?) gave him a squeeze...and she started dancing around with it a little bit. "Are you getting this for yourself or somebody special?" "Well, I was going to get it for my niece...but then it started singing, so it may be for when she visits MY house."<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225274249872634114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPnPt2ncQI/AAAAAAAAGlk/jvaqPOhIaDU/s320/DSC02668.JPG" border="0" /><br />We made it to <strong>Cheyenne</strong> after getting a little lost trying to find the hotel. Well, let me elaborate on that a bit. I was under the impression that my mom knew where she was staying in Cheyenne (because she told me she did), so I didn't bother getting Mapquest directions like I did for everything else. So after we passed every exit along I-80 that went to Cheyenne, I called up her hotel &amp; got directions for her. I checked her in...then we headed for Denver so that I could stay at the new Ritz-Carlton there. Oh...and before you judge me, I DID invite my mom to stay there too...but she had work business in Cheyenne at 6 AM &amp; didn't want to deal with that...so she had her chance. Oddly enough, no Ritz-Carlton in Cheyenne. I know, right? Weird.<br /><br />Anyway, the<strong> Ritz-Carlton, Denver</strong> staff was really nice checking me in, they gave me a room on the 14th (13th) floor, and this was what I was greeted with in the room...along with two goblets full of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups &amp; York Peppermint Patties (repeat customer &amp; they know what I like).<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225274252672309218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPnP4SHF-I/AAAAAAAAGls/p7fEpblacZQ/s320/DSC02676.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225275993669524674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPo1OAMXMI/AAAAAAAAGmE/JU_kt5t1AAc/s320/DSC02682.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">View from my room - Yes, that's Coors Field</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225274261477596050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPnQZFdG5I/AAAAAAAAGl0/-LkXG2NYq1k/s320/DSC02677.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">The Legendary Ritz-Carlton Bed</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225274267961868786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPnQxPbQfI/AAAAAAAAGl8/Z22Tj79hXsw/s320/DSC02680.JPG" border="0" /><br />It was at this point that I called <strong>JJ</strong> to let her know that I was in town...and then I called <strong>Bubbles</strong> to let her know that I made it safe...and then she informed me that I basically hadn't mentioned the trip to her at all (and she no longer reads my blog everyday) but I broke it to her as easy as I could that I was staying in a legendary Ritz-Carlton bed and hanging with our friend JJ. Then she made me jealous by saying that she was having some of Barbie's fantastic pork tacos...so we were even. Anyway, met up with JJ and JP (who's also a former coworker) and we walked around the 16th Street Mall and had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe (their choice). Good times.<br /><br />After dinner, we parted ways...and I returned to my room because I was exhausted (odd because I was in a car all day...but on four hours sleep). I flipped through the channels a bit &amp; stumbled upon the new episode of Venture Brothers ("What Goes Down Must Come Up") and while sitting there, thought to myself, "<strong>Wow, this would be so much better if I had somebody else to share it with.</strong>" Don't get me wrong, I love going on vacations &amp; seeing new things &amp; trying out new experiences...but the only thing better than ME experiencing all that stuff...is to SEE other people experiencing it too. The smiles on their faces, the look of wonderment, "Oh my gosh, this is amazing!", glancing in every direction to soak it all in, basically taking in the moments that they'll remember for a lifetime, then a few years later "Hey, remember when we were in...", then you both share the experience again in your own living room, that's SO much better than sitting in an incredibly well-appointed luxury hotel room by yourself overlooking Coors Field...and enjoying a few peppermint patties. This is why I don't like to travel alone...and it's REALLY easy to convince me to go on a trip with others. Anyway, I went to bed around 10:30 and didn't wake up until...<br /><br /><strong>Dream #1</strong> - I was at a party. Not the usual affair. This was at somebody's mansion...or at least a very large house...and it was catered with ice swans, you know, that kind of thing. I was walking around...and didn't really know anybody. What the hell was I doing here? I was hanging out by the bartender, then decided to try to find a bathroom. I get a little lost near the kitchen...and a lovely older lady (in her late thirties/early forties) says, "Hello there, handsome. Haven't seen you at one of these things before." "Yeah, I'm not exactly sure why I'm here honestly. Coach invited me (ah-ha, a coach is involved) but I don't know anybody else here." "Well, I'm Ginger. Nice to meet you." "I'm $teve." So then we get to talking...and she's obviously flirting with me...and I'm not opposed to the idea. Like I said, she was quite gorgeous. We talked about music (both liked oldies) and going to see a play in a few days (she had an extra ticket &amp; I had a suit and a friend involved with the play). Some not-so-subtle innuendo later, followed by "Well, I live just a few blocks from here if you'd like to walk with me" and we walk off (fade to black).<br /><br />Next thing I know, we're lying back in bed, I have a huge grin on my face, she's breathing deep &amp; caressing the sheets, "Oh my god, FIVE TIMES? We've been going at it for hours. You're like a stallion." "Pbpbpbpb (that's me neighing)" "My husband is usually a one-and-done man. That was amazing." My eyes widen up, "YOUR HUSBAND???" "Yeah...oh my God, you didn't know? Oh I'm sorry sweetie. I'm Ginger Jones, Coach Jones' wife." "Holy sh*t!!! What the...? Are you trying to get me killed? Are you some kind of robot sent back through time to destroy me? (Why do I always think that?)" "No, not at all. I'm sorry. I just...this hasn't been the first time that I've seduced players over the years. Just the first time that they didn't know who I was. I just thought...you know, you'd be cool with it." "Well, I'm not. You're married...to Coach." "I'm sorry. You're a sweet kid. I like you a lot...and not just for the multiple orgasms (giggidy). My offer still stands for the play if you wanna go. I'd hate to go alone...and my husband isn't going to go with me." "Well, I guess that'd be cool. Just as friends though." (Are you kidding me?)<br /><br />A few days later, we're finding our seats at the opera, I'm in a suit, she's in a dress with a surprisingly low neckline...and surprisingly firm support (then again, it is my dream). As we approach our seat, I hear somebody say, "Hello there $teven." I turn to find, "Bishop Bishop (I really had a Bishop Bishop growing up), how are you?" "Fine, I just came with the wife to the theatre. She dragged me along. You?" "I came with Mrs. Jones (yes, I realize the "Me &amp; Misses....Misses Joooooones", Billy Paul's hit irony at this point in the dream) because Coach Jones couldn't make it &amp; she had an extra ticket. I've been wanting to see this play for a long time, just nobody I could do it with...er, I mean, go with." He looks at me weird, "Hmm, interesting. Well, enjoy the show." "You too Bishop Bishop." "Please stop calling me that."<br /><br />After the play, I'm being driven home (how old am I in this dream?) and Mrs. Jones tells me, "$teve, I'm sorry about the other night." "Oh it's...no big deal...just please don't get me killed." "Hahahaha, no of course not. You're a great kid...and you've opened up the flood gates of Passion in me again (OH GOD, HERE IT COMES!!!) but I would never want to hurt you. Can we still be friends?" "Oh...yeah, sure, I guess." "Can we be friends...that f**k?" "NO!!! Absolutely not." "Are you...sure? (gently tugging on the dress revealing...well, revealing)" "YES!!! Absolutely sure." "Hahahaha, I'm just messing with you. I'm sorry. You're a sweet kid. Okay, friends it is."<br /><br />A few days later, I'm at Coach Jones' house and we (me, him, some other teenagers) are tossing a football around the backyard during a barbecue. Apparently, he was my football coach (never played football...or had a Coach Jones). After a few minutes, somebody yells out "LIES!!! ALL LIES!!!" and Bishop Bishop's agitated about something. "THIS MAN IS A LIAR!!!" pointing at me. "I know the truth. I know what you've done. GOD knows what you've done." At this point, I'm scared. He's gonna blab and her husband's going to kill me...and my friends are gonna bury a hole in his flower garden for me...and roses &amp; tulips are gonna grow using my nutrients and be some of the most beautiful flowers ever...but I'll be dead &amp; that'll suck. "I know your secret. I always had my suspicions...but then I knew it when I say you at the theatre. God frowns upon your actions...your awful, sexual actions...and you should be ashamed." Okay, how can I play this off? He hasn't seen anything...nobody has. Unless the neighbors...no, they're pretty cool about that stuff...and they wouldn't have talked to Bishop Bishop. "I have no idea what you're talking about" nor did anybody else in the backyard except me &amp; Mrs. Jones. "Oh yes you do. You and your hedonistic lovers." What? Lovers? Plural? "Abominations." Then it hit me.<br /><br />"Wo wo, wait. What? As you saying...that you think I'm gay?" "He admits it." I'm laughing myself silly at this point, "Oh my gosh, you're a homophobe...and you think that I'm gay. Hahahaha!!! Dude, why would you even think that?" "Who else would go to a musical with a woman more than twice his age...just because? Who else would be playing grab-ass in somebody's backyard with other young men?" Everybody's laughing at this point. Coach Jones steps over to him, "Ray, I think you need to go home &amp; sleep it off. You've been here since lunch with a wineglass in your hand. Oh...and it's called football, not grab-ass." This was about the time that I woke up and was literally laughing as I woke up. Not a bad way to start the day. Anyway, so what do you think? Weird movie of the week dream? Repressed teenage memory? You be the judge. The streak of sex-teased dreams has been...well, somewhat broken. Hope you liked it...and were surprised by the ending like I was. My storytelling methods kind of suck.<br /><br /><strong>Day 2 - Denver</strong><br /><br />Woke up in a good mood around 8 AM because of that dream...and was fully refreshed, so I showered, got dressed, and walked around the <strong>16th Street Mall</strong> to check it out, get some breakfast, and a few beverages for throughout the day (because hotels are expensive for that stuff...and there's a Walgreen's two blocks away). Then I went around the Civic Center to people watch, take pictures, and see some museum once it got too hot. Unfortunately, the Denver Art Museum (DAM!!!) is closed on Mondays...but it looked like it was going to be modern art anyway. So I went across the street to the <strong><a href="http://www.coloradohistory.org/hist_sites/chm/colorado_history_museum.htm">Colorado Historical Museum</a></strong>...and here's some pictures of my journey...<br /> </p><p align="center">Colorado State Capitol Building</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225276012237962418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPo2TLQPLI/AAAAAAAAGmc/2HL14iX56G4/s320/DSC02687.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Civic Center Park</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225276023980787490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPo2-69hyI/AAAAAAAAGmk/vBCmDSYl578/s320/DSC02692.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">The Romans were big on Hopscotch</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225277976024774898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPqom2g-PI/AAAAAAAAGms/xMEcvQXAkHA/s320/DSC02693.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225277990759863058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPqpdvokxI/AAAAAAAAGm8/BozZFdHYdm4/s320/DSC02697.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225277978600131634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPqowchzDI/AAAAAAAAGm0/shHPHolun5g/s320/DSC02696.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Colorado History Museum</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225277998529700034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPqp6sG4MI/AAAAAAAAGnE/_UaiJVxTX-U/s320/DSC02703.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Did you know there were Beavers</p><p align="center">the size of today's Bears during the Ice Age?</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225278003195903458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPqqMEnfeI/AAAAAAAAGnM/SZx2rd4Fbd8/s320/DSC02706.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Anasazi Condominiums</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225279735098332306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPsO_6VVJI/AAAAAAAAGnc/2NXuEnzMmLM/s320/DSC02708.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Check out the views from inside</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225279726724138626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPsOgtxRoI/AAAAAAAAGnU/Iz_HXzcEjYM/s320/DSC02707.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Loves it - "GO FIGHTIN' WHITES!!!"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225279739163686690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPsPPDltyI/AAAAAAAAGnk/KT4D7I68ei0/s320/DSC02709.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Mining is HUGE in the American West</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225279747330051650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPsPtemjkI/AAAAAAAAGns/LMyxyfiybiw/s320/DSC02710.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Gotta love the Cowgirl exhibit too</p><p align="center">(Disappointed there was no Mechanical Bull)</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225279748358472354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPsPxTzAqI/AAAAAAAAGn0/6bj59FktJVA/s320/DSC02713.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP4Ik8OydI/AAAAAAAAGsU/W0pEsPKDH-0/s1600-h/schmeckler.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225292818918853074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP4Ik8OydI/AAAAAAAAGsU/W0pEsPKDH-0/s320/schmeckler.jpg" border="0" /></a>After that, I decided to go back to the room (too hot) and take a nap...by basically watching TV and kicking back for a few hours watching "<strong>Bickford Schmeckler's Cool Ideas</strong>" on Comedy Central. It wasn't really a funny movie per se...but it had it's moments. It's about a college kid who collects a bunch of his thoughts about existence &amp; physical nature &amp; philosophy &amp; psychology and puts all of them into a book...or a journal or sorts. Then at a toga party, some super-high superhottie stumbled upon them, reads them, and basically has a mind-gasm about them...so steals the book because she's a nympho clepto (I know, hot right?). Obviously, Bickford wants his book back...but she gave it to a f**k buddy of hers...who threw it away to be picked up by a spaced-out young homeless man named Spaceman (Matthew Lillard) and the journey goes on from there as The Book is passed around campus. It was okay...but yeah, nothing major. Watch it if you have nothing better to do when it's hot outside. It was either that or watch continuing coverage of the <strong>Brangelina Twins</strong>, Knox &amp; Vivienne.<br /><br />That evening, I had dinner with <strong>JJ &amp; JP</strong> again, this time at the Cheesecake Factory where I enjoyed some Jambalaya and a glass of Sangria. Delicious...and great company. After that, I went to the Club Lounge at the hotel for a drink &amp; a snack. While there, I started what basically turned out to be the start of what I thought was an increase in my Mojo. I met a six-foot, skinny blonde girl (probably 16 or so) and her mom...and we talked about some of the items, like chocolate covered almonds dipped in cocoa...which seemed like a good way to stay up for a few hours. After a few minutes, they excused themselves...had been there for a while, so one of the Club attendants talked with me for a few seconds, asking where I was from, etc. Very nice...and she was cute...but yeah, after that, I sat there...by myself, overlooking downtown Denver at sunset sipping on a wonderful beverage thinking "Man, this is nice...but it'd be better if somebody else was here too." Finished my drink, went back to my room, watched some Sports Science show about a guy getting hit in the nuts with a tennis ball, and went to bed. No memorable dreams.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225281386299648546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPtvHHZ6iI/AAAAAAAAGoU/LILT7RIlFMc/s320/DSC02720.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><strong>Day 3 - Denver to Lusk</strong><br /><br />Had a continental breakfast in the Club Lounge (fruit &amp; a muffin) and another one of the attendents said, "<strong>How was your room last night</strong>?" "Lonely...but still fantastic." "Oh, I'm sorry about the lonely part. Traveling on business?" "Mmm, mix of business &amp; pleasure, I guess. Always try to mix the two whenever possible." "Excellent. How long are you staying with us?" "About (check metaphorical watch) three more hours." "Well, good luck wherever your travels take you then." "Thank you." So I finished up my breakfast...and checked on a rumor about a <strong>Rolls-Royce Phantom</strong> that the Ritz-Carlton owns that they'll drive you around on a first-come, first-serve basis...and it was true. While waiting for the Phantom, Olympic basketball player <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chauncey_Billups"><strong>Chauncey Billups</strong> </a>pulled up in a Bentley, so I shook his hand and wish him luck in Beijing next month. Then the Phantom rolled up...and took me to the <strong><a href="http://www.aquariumrestaurants.com/">Denver Aquarium</a></strong>. Here are the pictures...<br /> </p><p align="center">When you trust your camera to a valet...this is what you get</p><p align="center">(Note the Captain Morgan pose)</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225281396996175138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPtvu9p9SI/AAAAAAAAGoc/DulwMyv-t4M/s320/DSC02724.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">My driver Rod is even giving me a salute</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225283350021412482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPvhajKFoI/AAAAAAAAGo0/3jm7ATcJLA8/s320/DSC02727.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">What it looks like inside a Rolls-Royce Phantom</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225283336774982914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPvgpM9nQI/AAAAAAAAGok/KaWBtEz_qmE/s320/DSC02725.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">What I look like inside a Phantom</p><p align="center">"Excuse me Miss. Wanna go to the Aquarium?"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225283346163857250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPvhMLcd2I/AAAAAAAAGos/VAvFlklfAS8/s320/DSC02726.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Denver Downtown Aquarium</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225283358126174562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPvh4ve8WI/AAAAAAAAGo8/Yd9-zcU64L4/s320/DSC02728.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Rocky Mountain Habitat with Trout, Salmon, etc.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225283362662485602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPviJpBjmI/AAAAAAAAGpE/IjRjd0kzPCs/s320/DSC02729.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Alligator Snapping Turtle</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225285262363255058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPxQuk-4RI/AAAAAAAAGpM/n1VxScfH2Q4/s320/DSC02733.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Mechanical Orangutan for <strong><a href="http://microsuede.blogspot.com/">B</a></strong></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225285290975884418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPxSZKw9II/AAAAAAAAGps/AfAqxDY5pVM/s320/DSC02751.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Best picture I've ever had of a Poison Dart Frog</p><p align="center">Usually the kids tap on the glass before I get to them</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225285264442156018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPxQ2UoY_I/AAAAAAAAGpU/utbjji43dTM/s320/DSC02741.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Moon Jellies - I want some for my house</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225287171241440754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPy_1tAdfI/AAAAAAAAGp8/YWZV7gLLoys/s320/DSC02768.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Piranha - You should have seen them when I dripped</p><p align="center">blood in their tank. It looked like a hot tub for like five minutes.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225285285353563202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPxSEOTJEI/AAAAAAAAGpk/RyjjH8BLRq0/s320/DSC02750.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225285278086154194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPxRpJnR9I/AAAAAAAAGpc/vXN6bEk9cmo/s320/DSC02748.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">If there weren't kids getting their faces painted,</p><p align="center">I'd have a slightly more interesting picture</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225287180596440722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPzAYjabpI/AAAAAAAAGqE/qdheYfBJET8/s320/DSC02771.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Lots of kids at this place</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225287189959866786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPzA7b0-aI/AAAAAAAAGqM/1Hfd77fSebc/s320/DSC02775.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"Dora! Dora! Dora!" - Finding Nemo has saved aquariums</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225287162124932050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPy_Tvdk9I/AAAAAAAAGp0/gRu21MG-c5w/s320/DSC02759.JPG" border="0" /><br />I had lunch at the Aquarium's restaurant, which of course specializes in seafood...so I ordered some Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos while watching a giant aquarium...as if to say, "You're next if you don't ackrite, fishies." Good times.<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225287199403036850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPzBenQULI/AAAAAAAAGqU/rHIicy6v7EM/s320/DSC02778.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225288962546865634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP0oG1gFeI/AAAAAAAAGqc/ZkJdc2YBUaU/s320/DSC02780.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">More Mojo - I think this scuba diver's hitting on me</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225288970188716834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP0ojTdeyI/AAAAAAAAGqk/_DYe6WwAYsU/s320/DSC02783.JPG" border="0" /><br />After lunch, I walked around the Riverside, down the 16th Street Mall, and down to the <a href="http://www.denverartmuseum.org/"><strong>Denver Art Museum</strong> </a>(open this day). Here are some pictures of that...<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225288976389233954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP0o6Zx3SI/AAAAAAAAGqs/DxeDrHQ9Hww/s320/DSC02787.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">There's a giant Blue Bear at the Convention Center</p><p align="center">and nobody knows why...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225288986328053538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP0pfbYNyI/AAAAAAAAGq0/0_Al8nwndeU/s320/DSC02790.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">16th Street Mall</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225276009441933426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPo2IwoOHI/AAAAAAAAGmU/pShxB79X1gw/s320/DSC02686.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225275996537622466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPo1YsAD8I/AAAAAAAAGmM/tib_inlcbP0/s320/DSC02683.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225281377231357490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPtulVWxjI/AAAAAAAAGoE/DCiOBw9AVbs/s320/DSC02717.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Hard Rock Cafe - "Love All. Serve All."</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225281374680798738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPtub1QVhI/AAAAAAAAGn8/NqzAys6Cqnw/s320/DSC02715.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225281381696242130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIPtu193gdI/AAAAAAAAGoM/TNQHTE8wNuI/s320/DSC02719.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Denver Art Museum</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225288994616288482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP0p-TcpOI/AAAAAAAAGq8/fFlphEnujUw/s320/DSC02791.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225291091533456482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP2kB7dZGI/AAAAAAAAGrU/xkQRsF-U2T8/s320/DSC02798.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Some great Northwestern Tribal Art</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225291079142481778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP2jTxOH3I/AAAAAAAAGrE/EpTA1HGuOyY/s320/DSC02794.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Made of Sand - Imagine sneezing ONCE while making it</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225291089650890834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP2j66nuFI/AAAAAAAAGrM/eqN4EHZSjiE/s320/DSC02795.JPG" border="0" /><br />After that, it started getting hot again, so I ducked into a Starbucks, ordered an Iced Caramel Macchiatto, and people watched for a little over an hour...and answered a lot of text messages. This happened to be my <strong>brother Kiel's 25th birthday</strong> so I called him up &amp; sang him happy birthday. Also, his wife had texted me a few times about our Greatest Present Ever (that fell apart), <strong>Bubbles</strong> was in the hospital for a sinus infection in Nevada, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/seegrist"><strong>my Wingman</strong> </a>was in the hospital getting his last chemo treatment in Utah, my mom was working in Wyoming, and I was living la vida badass in Colorado. I almost felt a little bad for having so much fun...but quickly got over it. I sent them all my Love and wished them the best. <strong>JJ was kind enough to drive me back to Cheyenne to meet up with my mom</strong>...so big ups to her for a wonderful stay in Denver. I offered to take her out to dinner at Applebee's in Cheyenne...but she wasn't having it. Oh well, I tried.<br /><br />I waited at Applebee's for an hour waiting for my mom...and again, the Mojo seemed to be working as a few of the hostesses were checking on me every so often...including one incredibly cute girl that asked me how the WNBA game that I was watching was going. "Pretty good. Care to have a seat? I can catch you up..." "Oh, I probably shouldn't, working and all. Tehehehe." "Well, if you have a break or something, I'll be here for about an hour." "Tehehe (walks off)" I just assume she was probably underage...so it's a good thing it didn't go any further than gentle, mild flirting. Anyway, after some appetizers, my mom eventually showed up, then she ate (so I was there for a few hours total), then she informed me that <strong>our plans for Minot, North Dakota have been cancelled</strong>. Cool. More time for the Black Hills...so we started driving towards there...but decided to pull up in the small town of <strong>Lusk, Wyoming</strong> at the <strong>Town House Motel.</strong> It actually wasn't a bad room based on the rate being half its competitors....and being in backwoods BFW. Here are some pictures...<br /> </p><p align="center">You'll see this when entering Colorado</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225291103429173234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP2kuPnn_I/AAAAAAAAGrc/vqOa7heTA3w/s320/DSC02800.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225292573714853938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP36TfCsDI/AAAAAAAAGrs/bngqSrFTjZw/s320/DSC02808.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225291110876931042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP2lJ_TY-I/AAAAAAAAGrk/AsOe7-saLJQ/s320/DSC02807.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225292579119189058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP36nniTEI/AAAAAAAAGr0/H-urkh15M0Q/s320/DSC02814.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Town House Motel in Lusk, Wyoming</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225292583997347138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP365ylFUI/AAAAAAAAGr8/6eZ1x4bKrsE/s320/DSC02818.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225292590276580466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP37RLqlHI/AAAAAAAAGsE/u6nVZEWOuDM/s320/DSC02819.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225292605495926914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SIP38J4PYII/AAAAAAAAGsM/DOgS23iDHNQ/s320/DSC02821.JPG" border="0" /><br />Anyway, the rest of the trip will be coming shortly...and it has been a LOT of fun. Can't wait to catch you up...but it'll take a while. Have a great day...and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Love y'all madly!!!</p>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-53798877976174943382008-07-12T12:20:00.006-06:002008-07-12T13:12:12.521-06:00A Brick Wants to Be Something More<div>Good Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There have been a few people who have said, "$teve, you haven't mentioned any of <strong>your kooky dreams</strong> lately. Are you still having them…or just not writing about them?" The truth is that if I were having good, entertaining dreams…then I would be more than happy to share them with you. However, <strong>for example</strong>, this morning I awoke to find myself lying with a beautiful, long dark-haired woman yearning for my touch…so I obliged her. Slowly but surely though, that damn logic of mine started kicking in. "Wait, I didn't go to bed with anybody last night. Oh crap, I'm dreaming again." Almost as instantly as I realized it, she started to fade away…like a ghost. "No, dammit. Go back to sleep, $teve. Deep breaths. You know she's not real…but you're still gonna lose her…" and then she evaporated in a heavy-panting mist leaving behind only a few warm blankets and silky sheets. It's a running theme with me. <strong>The more that I think about something, the more it seems to slip away, especially with dreams. Logic has become a pain in the ass for me. </strong>Wish I could say it was the first time (this week) that a dream like that has happened…but it's not. Why don't I share these dreams with you? Because you're probably already bored of me talking about this one…and it's not even a full paragraph. You like hearing about my frustration as much as I do…but rest assured, if <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/11/part-6-welcome-back-kooter.html">I'm ever saving Australian scientists from giant snakes</a> or <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/01/party-like-rock-star.html">saving <strong>Foxy </strong>from Transformers </a>or <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/03/bon-voyage-bubbles.html">saving kids from a tornado </a>or anything else like that, I'll be sure to share them with you. Wow, I just realized that most of my dreams end up with me saving people. Maybe there's something to that...then again, I was also scared that <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/08/insert-title-here_16.html">I made sweet Love to a Terminator </a>too. Anyway, I hope that answers all your questions that you may or may not have asked.<br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div>Yesterday, I officially applied for <strong>that THIRD job in Vegas</strong> so we'll see how that goes over the next few weeks. I'm expecting the other two to start making offers (or at least interview) soon…because I'll be out of town the next two weeks and it'd be inconvenient…which seems to be their style. It's all good though. I would love to do an interview while driving 80 MPH as I pass Lamont, Wyoming (population 3) where there may or may not be cellular phone reception with my mom talking in the seat next to me about changing the radio station because she doesn't like the song &amp; doesn't know how to use buttons…then when the question comes up about multi-tasking, I will just laugh.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHkAVuLNwrI/AAAAAAAAGi0/HdK9ojxO4c8/s1600-h/Indecent-Proposal.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222205616085123762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHkAVuLNwrI/AAAAAAAAGi0/HdK9ojxO4c8/s320/Indecent-Proposal.jpg" border="0" /></a>I also watched a movie that I hadn't seen before, "<strong>Indecent Proposal</strong>" with Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, and Robert Redford. For the few of you who may not have heard about this movie, a billionaire (Redford) is gambling at a Vegas casino and his eye catches a lovely couple (Harrelson &amp; Moore) and he invited them over for good luck. It proves effective, so he invites them up to his suite to discuss <strong>a proposition of one million dollars…for one night with your wife</strong>. Now, think about that for a moment. I have a good job that pays about well…but a million bucks is me AND my wife's salary for over the next decade…and it's offered in one night. Then comes in the <strong>Logic vs. Love conflict</strong> that made this movie really hard to watch…yet I couldn't turn away. Anyway, they go through with it (honestly, who wouldn't really? REALLY? Be honest, I won't judge). Redford's smitten with her…and he's a billionaire. Moore thinks that he's a great guy (and dynamite in the sack) but she's married. Woody's obsessed &amp; insanely jealous because a billionaire just had relations with his wife. Conflict ensues…and I'd love to tell you how it ends…but I won't. You'll have to see it. I'll give you a hint though…a Hippo is involved. Now I know you're intrigued.<br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div>Anyway, back to the main question that the movie brings up: <strong>Would you do it</strong>? Now, you all know my resume (or lack thereof) when it comes to relationships. So keep that in mind, that I may be entirely &amp; ignorantly blissful…or completely cynical at any time. Now, I'd like to say that I wouldn't even consider the offer because we can get by well enough without a million bucks (which would be less than half after taxes &amp; stuff probably anyway). As it happens in this movie (and I would assume in real life if it ever came up), it was only considered after the wife brought it up as an option (since she's basically earning it) because <strong>who doesn't want to be a billionaire's girl…even for one night</strong>? So then you negotiate for more money (might as well) which didn't happen in this movie because he didn't speak with his lawyer first. Even then, I would think that if you were really in Love and trusted your partner, then it wouldn't be an issue. Sure, you'd have your thoughts…because again, who doesn't want to be a billionaire's girl…even for one night? Yeah, it's just a twisted little scenario…but I would think that Love would come through…because I'm an optimist. Worst-case, you lose out to a billionaire Robert Redford…and even though your heart is shattered into a million pieces, at least you didn't lose out to Bubba the car mechanic with a meth addiction. I don't know. <strong>What do you think</strong>? Discuss.<br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div>Best part of the day was in the evening when I hosted the <strong>$teve's Stayin' Here Rock Band party</strong>. There were a few last minute cancellations but <strong>Lilie, Mandy, Cat, Julie</strong>, and a few of the boy toys showed up and we had a rockin' evening well into the night. Great time was had by all!!! Here are some pictures… </div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222205476223233938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHkANlJir5I/AAAAAAAAGiE/Kg2SOs6bcYc/s320/DSC02646.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">The projector TV wall...and Sinatra on the right</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222205485125480082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHkAOGUALpI/AAAAAAAAGiM/RhqPED6dIgQ/s320/DSC02647.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Kyle &amp; me guitar dueling to "Green Grass &amp; High Tides"</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222205498248362306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHkAO3MveUI/AAAAAAAAGiU/vMvXLBjBer0/s320/DSC02650.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Oh yeah, I'm $teve DeSexy</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222205501068890546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHkAPBtNUbI/AAAAAAAAGic/f23z6XdyuyQ/s320/DSC02651.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHkAVW6qv3I/AAAAAAAAGis/71w1uIJ5oBg/s1600-h/fox-green.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222205609841704818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHkAVW6qv3I/AAAAAAAAGis/71w1uIJ5oBg/s320/fox-green.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/Brian-Austin-Green-on-Megan-Fox-Were-Solid"><strong>DAMMIT!!!</strong> </a>- So apparently the reports about <strong>Megan Fox &amp; Brian Austin Green</strong> calling off their engagement were grossly misinformed. According to an interview in TV Guide (really?), Green says "<strong>We're solid</strong>. We've lived together for three years. We have tattoos of each other's names. We have more time away from each other right now than we'd like." I'll bet. She's working. Hell, I wouldn't want to leave her side (or get dressed). Interesting thing though, he wants kids…and she's said that she's not ready for all that…but they're getting a petting zoo or sorts, which is a great compromise. "We have a potbellied pig, we have dogs, two cats, two birds a squirrel…and <strong>Megan wants a leopard</strong> - that'll never happen! That's a whole different world." Okay, I'm all for obeying laws and all of that…but if my baby wants a leopard, my baby's getting a leopard…or at the very least, a leopard-like cat…maybe a Lynx or an Ocelot. PETA would have a field day…but my Fox would have her kitty &amp; a huge smile on her face…so it's all worth it. Anyway, it's great to hear that they're together &amp; doing fine. I'm sorry for believing everything that I read in smut magazines…like <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080711/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_packers_favre">Brett Favre retiring </a>too. Seriously, what's going on with that?<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_naked_bus_hijacker;_ylt=AqUtEOycTNUSaYoBsFbjYW0jr7sF"><strong>Can't Wait for the Craziness</strong> </a>- Police in Las Vegas say they arrested <strong>a naked man who stole a beer and then hijacked a bus </strong>several miles northeast of the Strip. A police spokesman says the man fled from a convenience store when an officer arrived to investigate a report of a shoplifter Tuesday. The man allegedly punched in a back window of a Citizens Area Transit bus, climbed aboard, forced the driver off, drove the bus about 200 yards and <strong>then jumped off the moving vehicle.</strong> A police officer climbed aboard the bus and stopped the vehicle. Police say the man was arrested on felony charges and given clothes and a mental evaluation. Do you see why I want to move to this place? Craziness &amp; excitement everywhere…or at least near the Strip. It would be like a homecoming of sorts. Besides, it makes riding the bus a fun activity…until the new nude bus driver suddenly gets of on the next stop and forgets to put the bus in park. Good times.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><strong><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHkAVWT5XbI/AAAAAAAAGik/daEXJSoEUfM/s1600-h/chile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222205609679084978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHkAVWT5XbI/AAAAAAAAGik/daEXJSoEUfM/s320/chile.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/stripper_dc;_ylt=An4qabsF_PNyjxXAzNYirtIjr7sF">Is It Chile In Here?</a></strong> - A stripper who danced on the poles of <strong>Santiago subway trains</strong> to challenge the prudishness of Chilean society was arrested on Thursday during one of her lightning performances. Monserrat Morilles, 26, surprised subway riders all week stripping to skimpy underwear, but <strong>she refused tips</strong>. Nice! She said she was protesting a lack of tolerance in Chile, one of Latin America's most conservative societies where the first generation since the Pinochet dictatorship is reaching adulthood. "<strong>This is just a beginning. We are starting an idea here that will grow and be developed further</strong>." The professional pole dancer worked quickly all week to avoid arrest, getting on at one station, finding a subway car with no children on it and stripping in time to exit at the next station. Chilean media dubbed her "<strong>La Diosa del Metro</strong>" or <strong>Subway Goddess</strong>. She called her performances "happy minutes." Her manager Gustavo Pradenas said, "Chile is still a pretty timid country. People aren't very extroverted and we want to take aim at that and make Chile a happier country." Fantastic. I like this idea. Ladies, do you think that America's a prudish nation like I do? Join me. We shall take it to the subway poles, the street's light poles, the barber poles, election polls, wherever the people are…that is where we will show them what of what we're made and the good Lord gave. <strong>Viva la Revolution!!!</strong><br /></div><br /><br /><div>Also gentlemen, based on sworn testimony, here's a list of things that will help out your lady when she's having that exceptionally touchy time:</div><br /><div></div><ul><br /><li>Sex (apparently it works)</li><br /><li>Exercise (preferably sex)</li><br /><li>Heat &amp; Ice cream (interesting combination)</li><br /><li>Chocolate, hot tea, caffeine in general</li><br /><li>Ibuprofen &amp; birth control pills</li><br /><li>Compliments</li><br /><li>Showing that you care</li><br /><li>Lots of sweetness, hugs, massages, etc.</li><br /><li>Make her laugh &amp; don't piss her off (like calling her a fatty)</li></ul><br /><p>Thanks for the info, ladies. If anything else comes up, please feel free to share...and guys, remember this stuff next time it comes up. No need to thank me, just pay it forward.</p><br /><div>Anyway, that'll do it for me for today. Tomorrow morning, <strong><a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/06/electricity-magic-dead-presidents.html">I leave on my two-week vacation with my mom</a></strong>…and I'm not sure what kind of email access I'll have…but I'll try to keep you updated &amp; entertained when I can. Honestly, if I hear anything about getting a job in Vegas, you'll probably hear my screams of joy across the countryside before you get an email from me anyway. So keep your ears open…and have a great time everybody!!! See ya soon...</div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-234266208928565512008-07-11T13:36:00.007-06:002008-07-11T13:58:45.996-06:00The Lives You AffectGood Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />Yesterday, I spent the day with <strong>my brother and his family</strong>. You know, I wonder sometimes about when/if I go to Vegas, who's going to be affected here in Utah the most? My coworkers, they'll miss me but eventually get over it...and probably eventually stop emailing me (prove me wrong). My other friends, they'll miss me...but I don't see them that much anyway because they already live an hour or so away. My parents, they'll miss me a lot...but they'll call me every other night &amp; visit every few months...because it's Vegas. However, the people that will be most affected...are <strong>my brother &amp; sister-in-law</strong>. This became incredibly apparent yesterday as I was hanging out with them (well, my brother mostly). I showed up around noon &amp; watched the kids for a bit. Here are some pictures...<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">My nephew Vinny's already tatted up<br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221846621681511954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHe51fzmbhI/AAAAAAAAGg8/eyvEz5wJdOw/s320/DSC02639.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Sorry for the picture quality, but I just wanted</p><p align="center">to show you how cool my niece is...</p><p align="center">"High five!!!"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221846627877282082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHe5124yYSI/AAAAAAAAGhM/DACa50BE_T0/s320/DSC02643.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">My niece is cute (and my hands are HUGE)</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221846623190986578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHe51lbfL1I/AAAAAAAAGhE/M_GxMKhokW8/s320/DSC02640.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"Pound it!!! BOOM!!!"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221846637235772178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHe52ZwBmxI/AAAAAAAAGhU/ifm2yO3HuJg/s320/DSC02644.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">"Now, hide from the other boys!!! That's my girl."</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221846648694545314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHe53EcAm6I/AAAAAAAAGhc/2uy-LRA1CD8/s320/DSC02645.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHe6AxCFbiI/AAAAAAAAGhs/czBXqbuRTJw/s1600-h/wanted.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221846815284227618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHe6AxCFbiI/AAAAAAAAGhs/czBXqbuRTJw/s320/wanted.jpg" border="0" /></a>We watched "<strong>Wanted</strong>" with Angelina, James McAvoy (Mr. Tumnus), and Morgan Freeman. It's a great little shoot-em-up action flick by director Timur Bekmambetov who did the Russian Nightwatch, Daywatch, Baywatch vampire movies. It's about a league of assassins...and a Joe Nobody (McAvoy) who is recruited by them to save them from the assassin who killed his father...who left him when he was a week old. It should be a horrible movie, right? Well, it has great special effects and slow-motion, rewind, one-liner, faster-motion action sequences. It was a really exciting movie for the most part, funny (if you're a little twisted like me), but yeah, pretty bloody &amp; extreme at times...so you've now been warned. I liked it a lot though. However, I think that one scene sums the movie up best (not Angelina's back shot on the commercials...though that's what peeked my interest) and it's the great Morgan Freeman, who's the head of this organization of assassins. Now, the man has played God, the President of the United States, a singing vampire on the Electric Company, and many other memorable roles...and to hear him say...in that wonderful narrator voice, <strong>"Shoot THIS mother (lover)!!!"</strong> just sends waves of guilty pleasure through my body (though not as much as Angelina). Check it out if you like R-rated shoot-em-up movies...and await the sequels. </p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221846922196723234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHe6G_UApiI/AAAAAAAAGh0/rtJYEzR3Y7c/s320/freeman.jpg" border="0" /><br />Anyway, back to why my brother &amp; sister-in-law are going to miss me...because I like to think this blog is about me...to a certain extent. About the time the movie was over, <strong>Ashley</strong> was coming home from work...and she was her usual hour or so late because she stopped by her old job to say hi to her friends. No big deal, right? This happens ALL the time. Hell, I've gotten used to it...but apparently my brother can't grasp this. So she comes home (by the way, she's one of the ladies that I've been talking to about menstruation the past few days) and he does the usual "Where you been?" and of course, she wasn't in a good mood anyway, so she cops an attitude &amp; goes upstairs...so my brother rolls his eyes in my direction, which is man code for "See what I have to deal with?" My brother's not a gentle guy. At all. In fact, he's a jackass 99% of the time...if not more.<br /><br />However, after a few minutes of talking at me in a loud tone of voice about his wife (not yelling...because he knows that I would leave instantly if he were yelling at me for no reason), <strong>I suggest that he go talk to her &amp; see what's wrong</strong>...and if there's any way that you can help. So he gives me a weird look...and I say, "Just do it, bitch." He goes up there, I hear some soft baritone talking, then some soft soprano, then some more baritone, then louder soprano, then slightly louder baritone, then a second or two of silence (uh-oh), then some kind of screaming that I can hear through walls...then <strong>Vinny</strong> starts crying because he was awoken from his nap time...and then some jumbled noises upstairs...and then <strong>Kiel</strong> comes down with a crying baby. "So ugh...what's wrong?" "(Rolls eyes) She said nothing...and I said obviously something's wrong...then she flipped out...and now I have a crying baby in my arms. Thanks (brother)!!! Wait, correction...YOU have a crying baby in YOUR arms. I'm gonna make him some food." <strong>Ladies, we try</strong>. Even after all the advice that you've given me...and I've passed along to others, it doesn't help that when we try to show some concern, you flip out. I know it's not (necessarily) your fault...but at least we try. Long story short, I texted her shortly after (I wasn't going to bug her face-to-face) and cheered her up a little bit. She was worried about school, her family, her hormones, all that stuff. It happens.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHe6A_1qKaI/AAAAAAAAGhk/iqa1Zo8yu4Q/s1600-h/bbq.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221846819258640802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHe6A_1qKaI/AAAAAAAAGhk/iqa1Zo8yu4Q/s320/bbq.jpg" border="0" /></a>Eventually she came down &amp; hung with the kids (my mom even stopped by) and a good time was had by all. Then my mom left with the kids (staying at grandma's house so their mom could get a good night's sleep) so it was just me, my brother, &amp; Ashley. Then the drama started again because my brother's a bit of an idiot &amp; mentions...well, anything moments after a women handed her kids away for the night, is exhausted, and doing her lady thing. So now I'm in the house with an arguing couple again...not what I wanted to do with my afternoon. We decided the best thing to do was to go to my buddy <strong>Young Prodigy's</strong> house and let her talk with his pregnant girlfriend while he barbecued &amp; hung out with him. It worked. Thank God.<br /><br />Later that night, Ashley had gone to bed...and so Kiel &amp; me went out back and talked about whatever...mostly <strong>me going to Vegas</strong>. He's deathly worried about being left alone with his wife apparently. He didn't say it in so many words...but he REALLY doesn't want me to go. "I'm only going to see you when we go down for our anniversary...and maybe when you're up for the holidays or something...but you're going to use those days off for trips to Europe &amp; the Bahamas or something (he knows me well). <strong>Who am I going to talk to?</strong> All my friends are flakes." "Well...you're kind of an asshole too, dude. Maybe you should learn to talk with your wife. Most people make sure they can do that beforehand." "Still dude, you know I'm going to be calling you all the time." "And you know what I'm doing if I'm not answering, right?" "I hope so, man. If anybody I know deserves a good girlfriend, f**k buddy, wife, whatever, it's you. I hope you find one in Vegas...just stay away from those hoes, bro. I don't want you getting the clap or anything." "Well, that makes two of us."<br /><br />That's really all I've got today, except I applied for that other new job in Vegas this morning. So yeah, he's gonna miss me...and Ashley's going to miss me (because she vents to me all the time too). The kids are going to miss me too (until they forget about me) but it just feels like Vegas is the next step for me. Don't know how to explain it. It's gonna be fun...but in the meantime, I'm just going to have to enjoy my time here in Utah...beginning with my <strong>$teve's Stayin' Here Rock Band Party tonight!!!</strong> Stop on by!!! If not, have a great night!!! Oh by the way, <strong><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080708/tc_nm/game_dc;_ylt=AgIeyBV2U_4zI_BhGpcG1n0Wr7sF">Rock Band 2 will be here later this year</a></strong>. Awesome, right? <br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221846923751949634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHe6HFGzhUI/AAAAAAAAGh8/W-or5o0K1DU/s320/rock-band.jpg" border="0" />$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-45306761094214464502008-07-10T09:37:00.007-06:002008-07-10T10:26:58.336-06:00Livin' on a Natural High<p>Good Morning Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />First off, I'd like to thank all the ladies who have helped me out with <strong>getting to know menstruation </strong>yesterday...and those of you who just haven't gotten around to it (hint hint). Some great advice there...like just showing that you care, being there for them...but at a distance, make 'em laugh, don't piss 'em off, and showers are always nice. <strong>Any other suggestions on how to help?</strong> Please let me know. Together, I think we can make the world a better place on a monthly basis.</p><br /><p><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHY3VRhtOXI/AAAAAAAAGgk/lWtRkeJWWJ4/s1600-h/DSC00040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221421656604227954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHY3VRhtOXI/AAAAAAAAGgk/lWtRkeJWWJ4/s320/DSC00040.JPG" border="0" /></a>Last night after work, I drove home some sweet, older lady coworkers home, <strong>Valencia &amp; Tangerine</strong>. They don't have a car...and I was heading out anyway. It was a few miles out of my way...but they're great gals...and they wanted me to tell them how Vegas was going (because they're older ladies &amp; don't read my blog). I've done this a few times before...but I've never asked for gas money or anything...and I probably never will. It's kind of sad that owning the car, what used to be the staple of being an American, is becoming so hard to do. More so than hot dogs, baseball, credit cards, pornography, and crack cocaine...having your own car was pure Americana. Now, things have changed a bit. I have a beautifully restored muscle car that I can't afford to drive anywhere...so she sits &amp; gathers dust...and I have a very good paying job. Most people have to work within walking distance of where they live...and barely get by. It's for reasons like this that I have absolutely no reservations about driving people around. It's kind of like spreading the wealth...and besides, it's a lot of fun. Gosh, I'm going to my brother's today to see him before his birthday (since I'll be out of town) and it's going to cost me as much to do that as it used to cost me to drive down to Vegas when I started driving...ten years ago. I don't know. I guess I'd better get used to it. Gas prices aren't going to change for the better. We're just to the point where everybody else in the world used to be. It's just a little sad...but maybe for the better so that we don't pollute as much. You win this round, Mother Nature!!! Anyway, here's some news about nature...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHY3VEpo74I/AAAAAAAAGgc/lwqoaFjC-3Y/s1600-h/caledonia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221421653147840386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 168px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 215px" height="202" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHY3VEpo74I/AAAAAAAAGgc/lwqoaFjC-3Y/s320/caledonia.jpg" width="156" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080709/sc_livescience/eightnewnaturalwondersnamed;_ylt=AkUEQzJOqSTV_DtfSqFMl.kbr7sF"><strong>New Natural Wonders Named</strong> </a>- Eight new natural wonders have been added to the World Heritage List. World Heritage Sites are named by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The sites, both cultural and natural, added to the list are deemed "of outstanding value to humanity" and deserve protection and preservation. With the new additions, the World Heritage List now boasts 878 sites (679 cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed) in 145 countries. The eight new natural sites added this year include:<br /></p><br /><ul><br /><br /><li><a href="http://jogginsfossilcliffs.net/" target="_blank">Joggins Fossil Cliffs</a> (Canada)</li><br /><li><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1292" target="_blank">Mount Sanqingshan National Park</a> (China) </li><br /><li><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1115" target="_blank">Lagoons of New Caledonia</a>: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems (France) </li><br /><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surtsey" target="_blank">Surtsey</a> (Iceland) </li><br /><li><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1102" target="_blank">Saryarka</a> - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan) </li><br /><li><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g150796-d797763-Reviews-Monarch_Butterfly_Biosphere_Reserve_Mariposa_Monarca_Biosphere_Reserve-Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html">Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve </a>(Mexico) </li><br /><li><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1179" target="_blank">Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona</a> (Switzerland) </li><br /><li><a href="http://socotraisland.org/" target="_blank">Socotra Archipelago</a> (Yemen) </li></ul><br /><br /><p></p><p>Haven't been to any of these places...but now they're on the list. I may have to check the list of 878 to see how many that I've been to...but probably not too many. A few dozen maybe? If I get REALLY bored one day, I'll let you know...and show you any pictures that I might have. The Butterfly Reserve sounds like the secret headquarters of the Monarch from Venture Brothers. Who knew that he lived in Mexico?<br /></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHY3WWPtCEI/AAAAAAAAGgs/RotIrUfNScE/s1600-h/chestnut.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221421675050764354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 212px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" height="225" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHY3WWPtCEI/AAAAAAAAGgs/RotIrUfNScE/s320/chestnut.jpg" width="212" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080708/sc_livescience/livelongertheoneantiagingtrickthatworks;_ylt=AimrDMzY5m2y.f7ZTyCFS7cbr7sF"><strong>Eat in Moderation, Live Longer</strong> </a>- Everybody's searching for the Fountain of Youth so that we can enjoy these wonderful lives as long as possible...and new research finds a fairly simple way to add a few years to your life. <strong>Eat in Moderation</strong>. Specifically calorie restriction by about 25%. "There is plenty of evidence that calorie restriction can reduce your risks for many common diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease," says Saint Louis University researcher Edward Weiss, who last week announced a new study that brings fresh understanding to how it works. "And you may live to be substantially older." By which they mean, according to the research, eat 15 percent less starting at age 25 and you might add 4.5 years to your life, coupled with some drugs being designed based on these studies, you may be able to increase your life by 10 to 15 years in the very near future this way. The link has some more details...but I'm not going to bore you with numbers on this anymore. It could be true. The evidence says so. Here's a way that might help...<br /></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHY3WTPeMZI/AAAAAAAAGg0/I4D0q5j13oo/s1600-h/Stevia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221421674244485522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHY3WTPeMZI/AAAAAAAAGg0/I4D0q5j13oo/s320/Stevia.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080709/sc_nm/cargill_dc;_ylt=AmXuziwC9xFlzNizxyB8iDEbr7sF"><strong>All Natural, No-Calorie Sweetener</strong> </a>- Agribusiness giant Cargill Inc is starting to roll out Truvia, which is made from certain compounds in the leaves of <strong>Stevia</strong> (I swear, I did NOT make this up, read the article), a shrub native to Paraguay, and will provide a natural alternative to artificial sweeteners including Sweet 'N Low, Equal and Splenda. Truvia is going on sale first at a handful of D'Agostino supermarkets in Manhattan, and will eventually be sold at grocery stores and big box retailers near you. Starting in packets of forty then eventually into beverages &amp; food by next year, it may be the next big thing in sweets. The sweetness of $tevia will soon spread across the globe. However, Stevia is approved as a food additive in a dozen countries including Japan, Brazil and China, but not in the European Union or the United States. Yet it is sold in the U.S. as a dietary supplement, since supplements are not subject to the same regulations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies Stevia as an "<strong>unsafe food additive</strong>," saying on its website that "available toxicological information on Stevia is inadequate." Why? Based on previous tests, Stevia is dangerous, yet sweet, and ends up going straight to your thighs. A few lucky researchers out there would be glad to give you testimony (emphasis on few). Anyway, keep an eye out on this stuff. You know I will...since it's basically named after me.</p><br /><p>Well, that'll do it for me today. Gonna head over to my brother's in a little bit to see him for his birthday...and help him with the greatest present ever, courtesy of my sister-in-law &amp; I...but more on that later. Tonight's <strong>Slow Ride</strong> at the <strong>Huka Lounge</strong> (61st South &amp; State) if you're interested...but get there early. Tomorrow's the <strong>$teve's Stayin' Here Rock Band Party</strong> at my place. Saturday's work. Sunday starts the two week road trip adventure (on Uncle Sam's dime) with my mom...to some exotic locations (like the 4th largest city in North Dakota). Have a great day everybody!!!</p>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-61009567297522256682008-07-09T10:22:00.005-06:002008-07-09T10:44:01.566-06:00Help Me Help You, Ladies!!!Good Morning Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />You know, I've been puzzled for the last few days. However, before I go further, <strong>I want to warn you </strong>that the discussion for the first two paragraphs gets a little...unusual, especially for my blog. Some of the things discussed may make your stomach a little queezy and I may not use politically correct language...but it's only because <strong>I'm pretty much ignorant on the subject</strong>...as you will soon find out. Wow, I make it sound a lot worse than it is...but don't say that I didn't warn ya. Definitely do not read the next little bit of your sitting at your computer reading this &amp; eating something. You see...the past few days a few of the ladies that I speak with on a regular basis have been <strong>Menstrating</strong>. I know, it's a touchy subject for both genders...but I'm just trying to learn. The longest that I've had a girlfriend is three months...and I had no sisters growing up...and my mom didn't talk to me about this stuff...and is now in menopause...so yeah, I have very little experience with regards to menstration other than women get mysteriously &amp; extremely irritable (to put it lightly) on a monthly basis.<br /><br />Being the curious little monkey that I am, I decided that it was finally time for me to not Fear the crabbiness, cramping, bleeding, mood swings, temporary insanity, physical drainage, emotional baggage, social awkwardness, and all the other stuff mentioned on those damned commercials that I see all the time...and try to get myself a little educated on the subject. So I've been asking a few questions about it...directly from the source. Why? <strong>I want to know what I can do as a guy to help out &amp; make you feel better.</strong> I mean...what helps? Back rub? Scented candles? A few kind words? Garlic pills? Dirty limericks? A nap? Or do I just give you some chocolate ice cream and get the hell away? From the people that I've asked, it's usually the last one...but then something unexpected was mentioned. I realize that there's a rushing of hormones involved with menstation...but I was told that sometimes the ladies just want a good ol' rogering...and it makes sense...sort of. Hormones rushing, take your time, lay it down proper, she nods off, hormones &amp; headaches subside, endorphines are running wild. Yet for some reason, I always thought that the cramping thing would be an issue for her...and the blood might be for me. I'm not going to lie. I would probably freak out...a lot...but there are ways around that to make you feel better. Also, the mess involved...I don't know, maybe this isn't a usual thing. Like I said, I'm just starting to find out this stuff. Anyway, my question is this...<strong>what is it that you ladies want us to do when it's that time of the month?</strong> How can we help? I have a feeling that a lot of guys out there want to know...yet just don't want to ask the awkward questions. Well, I've gone beyond that, I think. Please, let us know how we can help you. I'm extremely curious now...and I want to inform others. Help me help you, ladies.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHTqN-CVBFI/AAAAAAAAGgM/zqbtW9_eEZQ/s1600-h/cellular.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221055393741210706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHTqN-CVBFI/AAAAAAAAGgM/zqbtW9_eEZQ/s320/cellular.jpg" border="0" /></a>Last night after work, I watched the movie "<strong>Cellular</strong>" with Chris Evans, Kim Basinger (hotchuma hotchuma), Jason Statham, and William H. Macy. It was a surprisingly good flick the first time I saw it...and it didn't disappoint this time either. It's about a lady who's kidnapped from her home (Basinger by Statham) and she doesn't know why. Somehow, she manages to dial a random number on a broken phone...and a teenager answers (Evans). He thinks that it's a prank at first...but then realizes it's not and tries to go to the police (Macy) but a series of events gets in the way...and now he has to try to find her, save the rest of her family, get help, and save the day...all before the battery &amp; his plan minutes run out. Oh yeah, Jessica Biel's in it for a few brief glorious moments too. Anyway, car chases, suspense, funny moments, intrigue, twists &amp; turns, and William H. Macy turns out to be a badass...who wants to open a day spa. Great flick. Check it out. Now, here's the news...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHTqN_XUWGI/AAAAAAAAGgU/wxE4TK0sjpw/s1600-h/shadylady.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221055394097682530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHTqN_XUWGI/AAAAAAAAGgU/wxE4TK0sjpw/s320/shadylady.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/oukoe_uk_usa_brothel_gasoline;_ylt=Aihwa22maryyncxxw1F_wcIjr7sF"><strong>Everybody's a Winner!!!</strong> </a>- A brothel in Nevada is trying to stimulate business by offering free gas cards to cover the costs of driving there from Vegas. Clients of the <a href="http://www.shadyladyranch.com/"><strong>Shady Lady Ranch</strong> </a>will get a <strong>$50 gas voucher if they fork out $300</strong> (worth about one hour's worth of services) at the brothel in Beatty, Nevada, which is about 130 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Owner James Davis said he already has had to order another $1,000 set of petrol vouchers because the first $1,000 were spent in one week. "It's rocking along. We're doing quite well. June and July historically are not big months." Great for them. It's a great idea that stimulates business for them...tapping directly into the millions of people in Las Vegas. Fill 'er up...then get some gas. I like it a lot. By the way, you all know that prostitution is legal in some parts of Nevada, right? Not Vegas...but other counties...like this one about two hours away. If you didn't know that, you may be wondering why this is on the news &amp; nobody's doing anything about it. Oh...and I like that James runs the business with his wife Bobbi, who came up with the idea. <strong>Just goes to show, behind every great man is a woman giving him ideas.</strong> Kudos!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHTqNtLF0PI/AAAAAAAAGgE/11T6ZFdIz4M/s1600-h/baby.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221055389214560498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHTqNtLF0PI/AAAAAAAAGgE/11T6ZFdIz4M/s320/baby.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080708/sc_livescience/mostpopularbabynameschangedramatically;_ylt=AhpIsRLrcNyRYAiQJ89tt1Ybr7sF"><strong>Baby Names Update</strong> </a>- The 1960s brought us baby names such as April and Sunshine, and naming new Americans has never been the same. So when <a href="http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23992493-23109,00.html">Sunday Rose Kidman Urban </a>was born this week, the baby of an actress (Nicole Kidman) and a country western singer (Keith Urban), news of her distinctive name created only a small stir. While many parents still stick with traditional names, U.S. babies now are tagged with an ever-increasing diversity of names for which the inspirations range from the calendar to languages from afar to colors to fruit to movie, literary, &amp; video game characters to states to acronyms to stuff that can only be characterized as throwing random letters together &amp; low-level child cruelty. The top 10 baby names from 1950 look nothing like today. Here's the list from 1950, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration:<br /><br />Most popular boy/girl baby names in 1950:<br /><br /><br />1. James / Linda<br />2. Robert / Mary<br />3. John / Patricia<br />4. Michael / Barbara<br />5. David / Susan<br />6. William / Nancy<br />7. Richard / Deborah<br />8. Thomas / Sandra<br />9. Charles / Carol<br />10. Gary / Kathleen<br /><br /><br />Here's the list from last year:<br /><br /><br />1. Jacob / Emily<br />2. Michael / Isabella<br />3. Ethan / Emma<br />4. Joshua / Ava<br />5. Daniel / Madison<br />6. Christopher / Sophia<br />7. Anthony / Olivia<br />8. William / Abigail<br />9. Matthew / Hannah<br />10. Andrew / Elizabeth<br /><br /><br />The diversity in U.S. baby names has exploded since the 1950s. Back then, a quarter of all boys and girls got one of the top 10 baby names. In recent times, the top 10 names account for only one tenth of all baby names. <a href="http://www.babynamewizard.com/">Laura Wattenberg's blog </a>has an interactive tool that displays the historical popularity of thousands of names from the 1880s to now, if you're interested. Looking at the 50's names, I see a lot of my aunts &amp; uncles (five uncles, three aunts, &amp; my mom) and from last year...not so much. Apparently, Michael &amp; William are still popular a half-century later...but that's about it. Anyway, I like diversity in names (as <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/06/im-gonna-be-uncle-again.html">my proposed names for my offspring</a> would suggest) so keep 'em coming. It's just interesting how the trends go...like celebrities naming their kids ridiculous stuff...but it's their choice...until the kid grows up. "You named me <strong>APPLE</strong>? What the f**k, mom? Dad, where were you?" "I was on tour. I wanted to name you Joshua. I heard about it on the tellie myself."<br /><br /><br />Anyway, that'll do it for today. Another big day at work that I'm convincing myself to stay the whole day...no matter what...but we'll see if my willpower prevails. Also got a job description for that new prospect...and it looks pretty good. I'll keep you posted. Have a great day everybody!!! What number are you?<br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="350" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle" bg style="color:#eeeeee;"><br /><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: blackfont-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;" ><br /><strong>You Are 7: The Enthusiast</strong><br /></span></td></tr><br /><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff"><br /><center><img height="100" src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/whatnumberareyouquiz/7.jpg" width="100" /></center><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><br />You are outgoing and playful - always seeing the happy side to life.<br /><br />You're enthusiastic and excitable. You love anything new.<br /><br /><br /><br />Multi-talented, you do many things well... and find success easy.<br /><br />You prefer to keep things light with others. Opening up is hard for you.<br /><br /><br /><br />At Your Best: You are deeply involved in each experience. You appreciate life for what it is, and you take the time to enjoy each moment.<br /><br /><br /><br />At Your Worst: You are greedy, self centered, impulsive, and insatiable.<br /><br /><br /><br />Your Fixation: Gluttony<br /><br /><br /><br />Your Primary Fear: Deprivation and pain<br /><br /><br /><br />Your Primary Desire: To be satisfied and content<br /><br /><br /><br />Other Number 7's: Howard Stern, Cameron Diaz, Robin Williams, Jim Carey, and Jenny Mccarthy.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatnumberareyouquiz/">What Number Are You?</a></div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-46240665677576307962008-07-08T12:18:00.005-06:002008-07-08T12:46:02.664-06:00Is There Such a Thing as Coincidence?<div>Good Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />Some good news on the job front. My managers are trying to help me get certified as a manager as soon as possible so that I can get to Vegas sooner rather than later...but we'll see how it works out. I spent about an hour with <strong>Boss Lady D</strong> yesterday and basically she paid me a lot of serious compliments in filling out some paperwork and went over my strengths with me...and as you can probably guess, it's really nice to hear somebody talk flowery about you. So a good day was had...and according to some system that determines my strengths by interview questions, my top qualities are <strong>Teamwork</strong> (playing well with others, going the extra mile, training &amp; helping, etc), <strong>Positivity</strong> (maintaining a positive attitude, making those around me happy, building great relationships) and <strong>Caring </strong>(helping out whenever needed &amp; basically giving a damn). Pretty accurate...and perfect for the jobs that I'm looking into. Also, there's another job opening that was just posted yesterday that seems almost too good to be true...so I'll investigate &amp; get back to you when I know more.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHO0_XKVxZI/AAAAAAAAGfc/bjK5HfCByK8/s1600-h/platoon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220715393694680466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 184px" height="226" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHO0_XKVxZI/AAAAAAAAGfc/bjK5HfCByK8/s320/platoon.jpg" width="136" border="0" /></a>Last night, I watched "<strong>Platoon</strong>" for the first time...and really not much else to say other than it's a Vietnam movie directed by Oliver Stone with an all-star cast (did you know Johnny Depp was in that? I didn't). Bloody, twisted, and about Vietnam...so not exactly a feel good movie...but what would you expect with Willem Dafoe being the good guy (still creepy), Charlie Sheen is the narrator, and Tom Berenger looks like he's pieced together by Dr. Frankenstein. Great flick...but yeah, not a cheerful one. Vietnam sucks.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHO0__JuBaI/AAAAAAAAGf0/G6DPZDOevyc/s1600-h/signs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220715404429493666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHO0__JuBaI/AAAAAAAAGf0/G6DPZDOevyc/s320/signs.jpg" border="0" /></a>Luckily, "<strong>Signs</strong>" was on TV. Now, I make fun of M. Night Shyamalan a little bit (probably because I'm just extremely jealous) but I really like this movie. It's about a former minister / farmer (Mel Gibson) and his family's experience during a slow but steady alien invasion...or is it a hoax? Great suspense throughout. Great, fun performances by Gibson &amp; Joaquin Phoenix and it's just a great movie that almost brings me to tears at times...because it's about Family, Faith, Fate, Aliens, and basically just seeing Signs in every situation. You know that I'm a big believer in "<strong>Everything happens for a reason</strong>" and though it may seem like the right thing at the time, down the road it turns out to be the best thing. This movie deals with that...and the Love for family &amp; loss...oh and throws in a few aliens...or are they the neighbor kids? Or just dead people walking around? Spoiler alert: ZOMBIE NINJAS!!! What a twist? Now, here's the news...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHO0_phJv6I/AAAAAAAAGfk/sskrVO-Utjo/s1600-h/portugal.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220715398622199714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 232px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" height="169" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHO0_phJv6I/AAAAAAAAGfk/sskrVO-Utjo/s320/portugal.jpg" width="222" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/oukoe_uk_portugal_ceramic_penis;_ylt=AuOsSbsOIaMUbo8UrLkXcC0jr7sF"><strong>How to Make A Portuguese Orange Juice</strong> </a>- Husband and wife Francisco and Casilda Figueiredo are among the last exponents of a traditional Portuguese handicraft -- making ornamental ceramic penises. For more than three decades, the couple have carefully shaped thousands of ceramic male organs, moulding them into upright shapes and painting them in life-like colours for export to Germany, France and North America. Oddly enough, they say the tradition is dying out. "The days of the ceramics trade here are numbered, I see no possibility of survival," Francisco said as he prepared moulds of the couple's top-of-the-range two-foot phallic-shaped bottles in his workshop. "It will never be like it was in the past." The couple produce ceramic mugs with a penis sticking out of the bottom or the side, penis-shaped bottles and ceramic soccer figures with the male organ popping out from under a flag...and sell for about 15 Euro ($30). The tradition is said to have started in the late 19th century when King Dom Luis suggested that the local potters make something more interesting...and this certainly has an interesting market. I can just imagine being at the home of a lovely elderly couple in Lisbon. "Would you like some milk for your coffee?" "Oh, yes please." Poured out of what appears to be a ceramic mold of John Holmes. "That's ugh...that's milk, right? You know what...sorry, maybe I'll just have some juice. I'll ugh...squeeze it myself."<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHO1AGD-iFI/AAAAAAAAGf8/hqGfRQAGcWs/s1600-h/wifetossing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220715406284458066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHO1AGD-iFI/AAAAAAAAGf8/hqGfRQAGcWs/s320/wifetossing.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080705/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_finland_wifecarrying;_ylt=ApVsvdWjgcKy1GLUIlkx_Ccjr7sF"><strong>The Sport of Wife Carrying</strong> </a>- It's not just for professional athletes anymore. Julia Galvin came to Finland looking for a man that would carry her 120 kg over a 253-metres track -- the incentive being the chance to win the wife-carrying world title and beer worth her body weight. In the end the Irish woman was carried by an English man through a pool and across hurdles. She did not make the gold, but said she would keep trying until the title and the beer was hers. Wife-carrying is one of a host of bizarre contests that Finns, who can tend to gloominess in the long winter dark, have devised for the scant months of summer when the sun hardly sets and people's mood turns frolicsome. Forty-eight couples from 13 countries, including Kenya, Australia and Canada, gathered in the remote Finnish village to complete the track. Estonia reigned supreme once again, as Alar Voogla sprinted home in just over one minute to win the Baltic country's 11th title, with Kirsti Viltrop clinging upside-down to his back. Honestly though, tell me that you wouldn't watch this if it were on primetime. It also purportedly stems from an even earlier tribal practice of wife-stealing, in honour of which many contestants now take up the challenge with someone else's wife. It has also inspired others to organise events such as sauna sitting, swamp football, cell phone throwing or karaoke singing. All are part of a summer bonanza of events that rake in visitors and cash for as long as the midnight sun shines. So next time you think that there's nothing to do...remember these Nordic events...and celebrate with a beer or two...and throw your cell phone out of the sauna while singing "Yesterday" or something. Always something to do...when you have imagination.<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHO0_5iO0UI/AAAAAAAAGfs/6LlwFv-PT7o/s1600-h/RZA.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220715402921693506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="148" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHO0_5iO0UI/AAAAAAAAGfs/6LlwFv-PT7o/s320/RZA.jpg" width="235" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.darkhorizons.com/news08/080707i.php">RZA, Eli, &amp; Quentin: The Holy Trinity?</a></strong> - The other day it was reported that rap artist RZA (WU TANG!!!) and director Eli Roth ("Hostel" &amp; "Cabin Fever") are teaming together to develop a martial arts film called "<strong>The Man with the Iron Fist</strong>" in which Quentin Tarantino may involve himself in. Now, Eli Roth has said that RZA is not only writing the film, he's also directing. "This movie will have everything martial arts fans could want, combined with RZA's superb musical talent. Fans should know that yes, there will be blood... This ain't no PG-13." What about QT's involvement? Seems that RZA "has been studying directing with Tarantino for years. and he's really ready to get behind the camera." This is of course mostly speculation at this point...but this could be awesome. Like Kill Bill meets the Wu Tang Clan. Awesome!!!</div><br /><div></div><div>Anyway, that'll do it for me today. Busy day at work again...and I'm determined to spend the whole day there after half-assing it yesterday. I need the money for a future move...and that <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/06/electricity-magic-dead-presidents.html"><strong>two-week vacation</strong> </a>with my mom starting on Sunday. Remember that? Yeah, it was finally thrown together...just in a different order (government work). It's the one to Cheyenne (Denver), Minot North Dakota, maybe a stop by Mount Rushmore, and Great Falls Montana. We'll make it fun though...because it's my mama. Check with y'all tomorrow. Have a great day...and keep an eye out for signs...especially ones that say STOP!!!</div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-15220198003610485502008-07-07T12:29:00.007-06:002008-07-07T14:36:41.028-06:00You're My Boy, Blue!!!<div>Good Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />I'd like to start things off by wishing a happy first anniversary to <a href="http://www.myspace.com/seegrist"><strong>Mr. &amp; Mrs. Wingman</strong> </a>on this 7th of July. Can't wait until I live within shouting distance...but in the meantime, I am going to celebrate staying in Utah for the time being...with a <strong>Rock Band party this Friday</strong>, so if you're interested. Feel free to stop by. There will be booze, charred mammal flesh, edamame, shadow puppets, the company of great people, and <strong>Rock Band</strong> with 7.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound &amp; projected on an over 200 inch screen (wall). Good times &amp; lots of fun.<br /><br />Yesterday, I didn't do much during the day except watch TV movie versions of "<strong>Kill Bill</strong>" (Party Wagon? Seriously?), "<strong>Ultraviolet</strong>" (my Milla fix), and possibly one of the most thoroughly funny movies ever made by man...<strong>Old School</strong>. Seriously, is there more than a minute in that movie where you don't laugh hysterically? Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, even cameos by Sean William Scott, Jeremy Piven, and Juliette Lewis are hilarious.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHJ-HNROIoI/AAAAAAAAGe8/Ix-YDP9L1Fo/s1600-h/coffee.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220373580361900674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="255" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHJ-HNROIoI/AAAAAAAAGe8/Ix-YDP9L1Fo/s320/coffee.jpg" width="232" border="0" /></a>Based on a suggestion from <a href="http://t-themadscientist.blogspot.com/"><strong>the Mad Scientist</strong> </a>though, I decided to finally go to a coffee shop and <strong>try to pick up on girls</strong>...awkwardly yet charmingly. So I went down to one of the local Beans &amp; Brews (two within walking distance), order a <strong>Mr. B</strong> (I don't know what's in it...but I'm guessing it contains delicious crack), set up my laptop, and basically wait for people to show up...because it was a Sunday afternoon. While there, I basically just sent emails to <a href="http://ninsiana0.livejournal.com/"><strong>JL Clyde</strong> </a>to entertain her at work &amp; checked out the news (pan down if interested). The beverage was delicious...but in the two hours that I was there...the only girl there without her boyfriend was the girl that made my beverage...and I wasn't going after her. It was later suggested that I try a place near the university which makes perfect sense...and instead of just pratting along on my keyboard...to read a book of poetry or something. Conveniently, I do have a few poetry books...that I've actually read a few times...and memorized a few back in high school (to impress the female nerds in the clubs that I was in) but mostly <strong><a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/John_Donne">John Donne</a></strong>. So if somebody inquires about my reading...and they like their 16th century preacher poets who wrote beautiful love poetry to their jailbait nieces, then I'm good to go. Great ice breaker right there. More attempts to be mysterious &amp; interesting later...but I think I'm too open for all that. What do you think? Based on what you've read about me on this blog...would you be interested...or am I EXACTLY what you're trying to avoid?<br /><br />This morning, <strong>I helped my dad pick up an old stereo</strong> that somebody he works with (moving to Reno) was giving away...but that's not all. It was an original 1963 Pioneer stereo system with a record turntable, cassette player (probably one fo the first years), AM/FM phonograph (kid you not, that's what it said on the owner's manual...and yes, the owner's manual was with it), two CS series speakers (medium size 8" woofers), and a <strong>collection of records</strong> that was simply amazing. I'm talking the Beatles "Revolver" album, original Lynyrd Skynyrd (including the revoked one after their plane crash), Led Zeppelin "Houses of the Holy", the Ventures, the Holy Bible as narrated by the Statler Brothers, Perry Como, Bob Seger, ten kinds of Clapton (Byrds, Derek &amp; the Dominos, God himself, etc), and many many many more with some great value to them. Thanks Ruby!!! You rock!!! Anyway, here's some news while I'm at work...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHJ-HzF0CYI/AAAAAAAAGfM/InXcaZomf6c/s1600-h/pandas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220373590514600322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHJ-HzF0CYI/AAAAAAAAGfM/InXcaZomf6c/s320/pandas.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080706/ap_on_re_as/china_quake_panda_2"><strong>Panda Update</strong> </a>- A panda who was relocated after China's deadly earthquake damaged her home <strong>gave birth to twin cubs</strong> on Sunday. Guo Guo is the first panda to give birth since the 7.9-magnitude quake struck Sichuan province on May 12, killing nearly 70,000 people and leaving 5 million homeless. One cub weighed 6 ounces and Guo Guo was cuddling the other cub and staffers at the Bifengxia Giant Panda Base were not able to weigh it. The report did not give the sex of the twins. This is awesome news...because not only are the pandas breeding...bu they're doing so in <strong>Brangelina fashion</strong>...two at a time. Maybe the techniques that I kept telling them about when I was over there in China are finally starting to pay off three years later. Yeah, I know. I should be used to being right all the time...but it still startles me once in a while...because statistically, I have to be wrong at least once in a while, right? It's simple mathematics &amp; probability. Anyway, congratulations to Guo Guo &amp; now...during the next hundred days, I'm sure they'll have a <strong>contest to name the twins</strong>...and might I suggest Ren &amp; Stimpy...or whatever that translates to in Chinese (probably "Angry Rat Dog" &amp; "Nasty Pussy Cat" or something). Maybe they can just wait until Angelina has her litter...and copy them. I still think Ling Ling's a good strong name too. Any other suggestions? (God help you if you say Mary Kate &amp; Ashley)<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHJ-H_ybwFI/AAAAAAAAGfU/lYHPfdA5lyU/s1600-h/pompeii.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220373593922977874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="259" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHJ-H_ybwFI/AAAAAAAAGfU/lYHPfdA5lyU/s320/pompeii.jpg" width="214" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080704/sc_nm/italy_pompeii_dc;_ylt=AulHgT8xJqbqHXlnRVlFUQgbr7sF"><strong>Pompeii Update</strong> </a>- Now, I <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/11/part-5-where-love-is-king.html">may have mentioned </a>during my travels there in November that I've always wanted to make a movie about Pompeii now that we have CGI technology &amp; the option of an orgy scene in the movie industry...not like "The Last Days of Pompeii" back in the 50's. However, the Italian government declared a state of emergency at the Pompeii archaeological site on Friday to try to rescue one of the world's most important cultural treasures from decades of neglect. A cabinet statement said it would appoint a special commissioner for Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by an eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in AD 79 and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Archaeologists and art historians have long complained about the poor upkeep of Pompeii, dogged by lack of investment, mismanagement, litter and looting. Bogus tour guides, illegal parking attendants and stray dogs also plague visitors. (But the dogs are really cute &amp; friendly though) Some 2.5 million tourists visit Pompeii each year, making it one of Italy's most popular attractions, and many have expressed shock at the site's decay. Basically, the report says that at least 150 square meters of fresco &amp; plaster work are lost each year due to erosion (and probably unlicensed patron souveniors) and preservation that started thirty years ago isn't cutting it. In fact, the parts of the city that haven't been excavated yet...are literally a trash dump for the nearby city of Naples and is scattered with tires, fridges, and mattresses. Truly sad...but I'm sure that the Italian government will find a way to preserve this incredible place. I mean...it's not like they've elected porn stars or anything. Oh wait...maybe we should help them out. Nah, the Euro's stronger than the dollar now. It's their problem. Feel free to <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/11/part-5-where-love-is-king.html"><strong>check out my pictures from last year</strong></a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHJ-HnYKH_I/AAAAAAAAGfE/1ePTIEH-L-8/s1600-h/hitler.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220373587370319858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="163" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHJ-HnYKH_I/AAAAAAAAGfE/1ePTIEH-L-8/s320/hitler.jpg" width="240" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/oukoe_uk_germany_hitler_head;_ylt=Aj1JXBYebiH7dpK6qa8y_EUjr7sF"><strong>Wax Figures: The New Clowns?</strong> </a>- In our pursuit to preserve history, sometimes we do some silly things. We've turned the Leaning Tower of Pisa into a symbol of a great nation full or sooooo many cooler things. We display bones of people &amp; giant animals that no longer exist in museums...and yet there's still a market for endangered animal skins. However, wax museums are filled with figures of humans throughout history to...well, basically show just how creepy it would be to see them frozen in time...in three dimensions. Like you went back to a moment in time...yet were frozen there (so you could give Napoleon a wedgie or put his hand down his pants instead of in his lapel or something). Now, they recently opened a <strong>Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Berlin</strong>...and of course, when you think of the history of Germany, who's the first person that comes into mind? No, not David Hasselhoff, the other guy. No, not Dirk Nowitzki, shorter...with a silly moustache. Geraldo's not German, not even close. I'm talking about Hitler. Anyway, on opening day a 41-year old German man <strong>tore the head off the Hitler wax figure</strong> and I'm guessing the authorities stopped him before he could skull f**k the former German dictator responsible for the death of millions.<br /><br />Now, the interesting thing about this story in my opinion, is that <strong>it is illegal in Germany to show Nazi symbols and art glorifying Hitler</strong> and the exhibit was cordoned off to stop visitors posing with him. Unobtrusive signs asked visitors to refrain from taking photos or posing with Hitler "out of respect for the millions of people who died during World War Two". Camera surveillance and museum officials were meant to stop inappropriate behaviour. Institutions such as the foundation for Germany's central Holocaust memorial site condemned the idea of the exhibit as tasteless, saying it had been included to generate business...so why did this seem like a good idea to the museum? When I went to the <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/11/part-1-random-menace.html">Wax Museum in Barcelona</a>, they had a whole array of Socialist dictators on display...but they're still a Socialist nation. It just seems...obviously they saw it coming, hence the security around the figure. It's like opening one of those wax museums in Detroit and having a Klan leader figure next to Osama Bin Ladin. Somebody's going to get shot...and that's probably before the museum opens. Anyway, it's just weird, I guess.<br /><br />Well, that'll do it for me today. Have a groovy day...and I'll probably see ya tomorrow. Happy Anniversary to <a href="http://www.myspace.com/seegrist"><strong>the Wingmans</strong> </a>once again!!! "Brown chicka brown brown, brown chicky chicky brown..."</div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-67553417652964974922008-07-06T10:45:00.008-06:002008-07-06T11:22:04.286-06:00Love, Passion, & Double D's<div><div><div>Good Morning Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-P6jJsGI/AAAAAAAAGec/ZDtr0ekBr90/s1600-h/pool.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219951517490589794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-P6jJsGI/AAAAAAAAGec/ZDtr0ekBr90/s320/pool.jpg" border="0" /></a>Well, after work last night, I met up with <strong>Bubbles</strong> &amp; two of her ladyfriends at <a href="http://www.greenstreetslc.com/"><strong>Green Street</strong> </a>for some pool and free drinks. It's about time a girl bought me a drink. Then again, it was just about last call when I showed up. I did better than usual with regards to billiards...and we all had a good time. The ladies then talked about getting a cab...but were going to different places, so I just offered to drive them home &amp; they spent the money saved on some late night waffles at <strong>Village Inn</strong> that I ended up eating most of. Nice. The best part about eating at Village Inn late at night...is the people watching. In fact, there was one lady in her twenties who...probably should have been cut off a long time ago...and she was basically <strong>roaring like a cat</strong> at the other tables &amp; rambling at the waitress. It was interesting...and mildly entertaining. Of course, sitting at the table with three very attractive ladies, <strong>there were a few guys watching our table</strong>...and probably wondering who the hell I was. "Either it's their gay friend, an older brother, or some kind of centaur. Look! He's totally looking down her shirt. That eliminates the gay friend...and he's not nearly as hot as them, so he's probably half horse." As we left, one of them even tried to wave down <strong>Bubbles</strong> from across the room...and she just laughed &amp; grabbed onto my arm as we exited. See? Being a chauffeur pays off...in fun, waffles, and confidence-building.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-TWlWjuI/AAAAAAAAGes/jW_QI_fU5O8/s1600-h/terrencekiel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219951576555622114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-TWlWjuI/AAAAAAAAGes/jW_QI_fU5O8/s320/terrencekiel.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080705/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_former_player_killed"><strong>Drunk Driving</strong> </a>- You know, I realize that I talk a lot about having a designated driver (Double D's in title), enjoying alcohol in moderation, and basically being safe with your fun. It's primarily because I have seen some of my friends &amp; family suffer greatly when they don't. My dad would tell me horror stories while he was a cop about accidents where alcohol was involved. Several of my high school friends &amp; classmates died in car crashes. Even lesser things like DUIs and repairing your car are both really expensive &amp; inconvenient. Even as recently as yesterday, I expressed how much I enjoy being a designated driver…because I don't need alcohol for a good time, so everybody has fun &amp; gets home safely. Then last night I was looking through the news bites and found this story that scared me a little bit. <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080705/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_former_player_killed"><strong>Former Chargers safety Terrence Kiel was killed</strong> </a>after he was thrown from a Chevy sedan he was driving Friday night. He was driving alone after leaving a party at about 10:15 PM when he hit a wall in San Diego's upscale Scripps Ranch neighborhood and was thrown from the car. Friends had tried to keep Kiel from driving home from the party, Sgt. Alan Hayward said, and witnesses told police he appeared to be driving in the wrong direction when he crashed.<br /></div><br /><div>Now the reason that this particular story scared me…was because <strong>Kiel</strong> is my brother's name (as you may know) so when I see a headline containing "<strong>Kiel dies</strong>" it immediately creeps me out…because it's even an unusual spelling. Secondly, he was 27 years old &amp; driving home alone after a 4th of July party. I'm 27…and went to a party the other night. Thirdly, I thought it oddly ironic that his position when he played football was Safety. Anyway, I know you guys are probably sick of me reminding you that <strong>drinking &amp; driving is a really bad idea</strong>…but please just take it to heart. It's not that I'm trying to tell you how to live your life or anything like that…just that I'd like you guys to be around as long as possible…and I certainly don't want to read any headlines containing "(Someone I really care about) dies" as I'm sure there are plenty others out there that feel the same way. <strong>Drink responsibly…and if you must, feel free to invite me to your shindig</strong>. I'm pretty entertaining anyway…and I'll drive you home in my plush, newly renovated Poor Man's Maybach. Seriously, you'll fall asleep in these heavenly sofa-like seats &amp; smooth ride. I'm not joking. It's THAT comfortable.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-PXi_mOI/AAAAAAAAGeM/iPN8MX4GY3I/s1600-h/chestnutkobayashi.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219951508094687458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px" height="256" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-PXi_mOI/AAAAAAAAGeM/iPN8MX4GY3I/s320/chestnutkobayashi.jpg" width="226" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080704/ap_on_fe_st/odd_frank_fight;_ylt=Ah1tYQJzb1DSaP.vw.zQ91Ujr7sF"><strong>American Tales of Gluttony</strong> </a>- American Joey Chestnut reclaimed the top spot at the annual <strong>Nathan's hot dog eating contest</strong> in Coney Island on Friday after first tying with Japanese archrival Takeru Kobayashi in a 10-minute chow-down at 59 dogs...and then beating him in a five-dog eat-off. Kobayashi had hoped to reclaim the throne after a disappointing three-dog loss last year shattered his six-year winning streak. Chestnut's winnings include $10,000 and the coveted mustard-yellow belt. Congratulations, Mr. Chestnut!!! Your dedication has paid off. Really though, what's more American than gorging yourself on incredibly unhealthy processed meat-based products while people around the world &amp; in your own country starve? How about this…<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-PcgJFyI/AAAAAAAAGeE/3wTEA_MPskM/s1600-h/cheese.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219951509424903970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="160" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-PcgJFyI/AAAAAAAAGeE/3wTEA_MPskM/s320/cheese.jpg" width="242" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/odd_cheese_dc;_ylt=AgWooab3reaGHD_u_iW2EJYjr7sF"><strong>The Big Cheese</strong> </a>- A sculpture of the signing of the Declaration of Independence made from a <strong>one-ton block of cheddar cheese</strong> glistened on the sidewalk of Times Square in New York on Thursday as an artist's tribute to the 4th of July. The replica of an iconic painting by John Trumbull shows John Adams, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin and others standing around a table signing the historic document. Sculptor Troy Landwehr worked eight hours a day for a week in a 40-degree cooler carving the block of Wisconsin cheddar for cracker company Cheez-It. "The cheddar has been pasteurized and will not melt. What I spray on it is cooking oil and that stops it from drying out and cracking. That's why it looks sweaty. It actually preserves the cheese. The hardest part was trying to keep everybody in proportion." He said putting the cheese on display in New York and Philadelphia would help it age faster and then it would be taken back to Wisconsin to be donated to food pantries. Well, as absurd as it sounds, at least it's going to a good cause…eventually.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-QNY1AsI/AAAAAAAAGek/QD5G_zQa4YY/s1600-h/sausage.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219951522547565250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="233" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-QNY1AsI/AAAAAAAAGek/QD5G_zQa4YY/s320/sausage.jpg" width="232" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_sausage_attack;_ylt=AnzVMln2mMmG1opHSlh3SS8jr7sF"><strong>Rage &amp; Gluttony</strong> </a>- A man was charged with battery last week after he hit his mother in the head with a <strong>three-pound package of Polish sausage</strong> (that's what she said). Gregory Allen Praeger, 46, was in the kitchen cooking and talking on the phone when officers arrived Saturday night. His mother told police he had been drinking and arguing with her, then picked up the package of sausage and hurled it, grazing her head. She was not badly hurt and did not have to go to the hospital. He was held on $500 bond. "<strong>What are you in for</strong>?" "I clocked my elderly mother with three pounds of all-beef Polish sausage." Not going to get you street cred unless they take it in an entirely inappropriate way…then they may be disappointed during shower time.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-PnxcDzI/AAAAAAAAGeU/AWvwGdLWzrI/s1600-h/franklinross.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219951512450240306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="238" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-PnxcDzI/AAAAAAAAGeU/AWvwGdLWzrI/s320/franklinross.jpg" width="275" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_revolutionary_marriage;_ylt=Al_7yNVBxxkWKoGwai3qU1Ujr7sF"><strong>Betsy Ross Update</strong> </a>- Remember a few months ago when I mentioned that <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/03/bon-voyage-bubbles.html">Benjamin Franklin &amp; Betsy Ross were getting married</a>? Well, to commemorate the 4th of July, historical figure reenactors Ralph Archbold (Franklin) &amp; Linda Wilde (Ross) tied the knot in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The bride and groom, as well as the entire wedding party, were in costume for the event. "Ralph and Linda, the entire city could not be happier for you," said Mayor Michael Nutter, who performed the brief ceremony. After exchanging vows, Archbold and Wilde were given a standing ovation by the crowd of several thousand as the Philly Pops played the wedding march. The couple boarded a horse-drawn coach for the trip to a private reception at the historic City Tavern, where Franklin dined along with such notables as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. The 66-year-old Archbold, who has portrayed Franklin since 1973, and Wilde, 50, met Sept. 1 after she hired him for a friend's wedding toast. The couple discovered a mutual Love of history and education, and they announced their engagement this spring.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Speaking of Betsy Ross, the <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/06/be-next-betsy-ross-or-ross-betsy.html"><strong>ULTIMATE CHALLENGE</strong> </a>is still alive &amp; well. Show off your creative skills &amp; stand to receive a magnificent array of wonderful prizes. Years from now, perhaps a couple portraying your historical image will be married in this fashion…as the legendary creator of the first <strong><a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/06/be-next-betsy-ross-or-ross-betsy.html">Flag of $tevonia</a></strong>. Do you think that Betsy Ross expected to be immortalized in song when she (allegedly) made the first flag? Nope. Never even crossed her mind. That's the thing with history, the little things that you do today, when filled with <strong>Love &amp; Passion</strong>, could immortalize your image to inspire future generations to do the same. Perhaps the only thing that people should live with an excess of in their veins…is that <strong>Love &amp; Passion for others</strong>. Because when it all comes down to it, the greatest purchases of our life aren't when we buy a new sportscar or an Armani suit or something just for us…but when it's an engagement ring for the Love of your life or a house to start your family. The greatest thrills aren't when you jump out of an airplane or race around going 180 MPH…but when you find that special someone who makes everything exciting &amp; new, yet gives you a sense of inner peace and spiritual creaminess. I guess what I'm saying basically is don't sweat the small stuff…and don't be stingy with the Love (at least to those that deserve it). Sure, there may be lots of bad people out there wanting to do you wrong…but when you find those great people who make you feel incredible &amp; really care about you, don't take them for granted. Let them know what they mean to you. Don't be afraid to open up to them. <strong>Live your life with Love &amp; Passion</strong>.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Wow, I just realized that I babbled on a lot about that…when I started with talking about the flag for my imaginary principality. Nice. Well, that's why some of you read every word…and others skim through. <strong>Either way, thanks for reading</strong>. Writing this gibberish keeps me entertained…and hopefully does the same for you…and let me know if you'd like to sponsor me. <strong>Donations / Gratuities are greatly appreciated…as well as comments</strong>.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Anyway, that will do it for today. Not any real plans or anything...but worst-case, there's the Sunday Night Fox lineup and a new Venture Brothers episode. Awaiting the possible return of the lovely Molotov Cocktease. I know, I'm lame...but I'm also charming, so it doesn't come off as creepy unless I write it down and display it for the world to see. (Sigh...) Have a great night everybody!!! Hotchuma hotchuma!!!</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219951631813760354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SHD-Wkb61WI/AAAAAAAAGe0/5S0HVm7bRXA/s320/molotov.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-37747131652758598292008-07-05T12:19:00.007-06:002008-07-05T14:35:21.740-06:00Activate Hero Shield<div align="left">Good Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG_AjFLoEII/AAAAAAAAGds/GPkV-pnEn-w/s1600-h/chauffeur.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219602202064588930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="191" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG_AjFLoEII/AAAAAAAAGds/GPkV-pnEn-w/s320/chauffeur.jpg" width="256" border="0" /></a>After work last night, I met up with <strong>Brooklyn</strong> at <strong>Ex-Wives Place</strong> (house party was apparently cancelled) and had a few beers. Good times. I showed up just before last call...so I basically just sit back &amp; watched intoxicated individuals celebrate America's birthday, Life, Liberty, &amp; the Pursuit of Happiness in general. I bought a round of shots...and was instantly everybody's friend. Not a bad way to drop twenty bucks...but I doubt anyone will remember me this morning. Anyway, after an hour or so, I drove <strong>Brooklyn</strong> home &amp; made sure that she got home safe. She was appreciative...and sent a few text messages saying so. She was a little tipsy but it's all in a day's work. I like being the designated driver because then I know that my friends get home safe. It really eases my mind. For example, the other night I was driving <strong>Bubbles</strong> home and I was being a smartass &amp; said something that was construed as me being her chauffeur. "Oh, so that's how you feel about this? Like I'm just using you as my chauffeur?" "No, <strong>I like being your chauffeur</strong>. We have fun &amp; you get home safe. Win-win." Besides, when you ask drunk people for gas money...sometimes they give you more than expected. Anyway, after that I talked to my brother for a few minutes (wife was camping at my mom's) then went to bed.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="left">Today, I'm working late yet again. Really have NO idea what they're going to do when/if I change jobs. When I'm gone, who is going to work every holiday? Most weekends? Honestly, at that point, it's not my problem. Got a call from my buddy <strong>Airon</strong> today. He's sending me a wedding invitation for 8/8/08 and I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make it (really haven't seen him in a while) but we shall see. Now for some slightly morbid news...<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG_AjF6GpWI/AAAAAAAAGdk/VFQM-n6hvaE/s1600-h/bozo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219602202259531106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG_AjF6GpWI/AAAAAAAAGdk/VFQM-n6hvaE/s320/bozo.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080703/ap_en_ot/obit_harmon"><strong>Bozo Dies</strong> </a>- Larry Harmon, who turned the character <strong>Bozo the Clown</strong> into a show business staple that delighted children for more than a half-century, died at his home Thursday of congestive heart failure. He was 83. Although not the original Bozo (that was actually Pinto Colvig, who voiced Goofy in 1946), Harmon portrayed the popular clown in countless appearances and, as an entrepreneur, he licensed the character to others, particularly dozens of television stations around the country. The stations in turn hired actors to be their local Bozos. "You might say, in a way, I was cloning BTC (Bozo the Clown) before anybody else out there got around to cloning DNA," Harmon told the AP in a 1996 interview. My condolences go out to his wife of 29 years, Susan Harmon, who indicated Harmon was the perfect fit for Bozo. "<strong>He was the most optimistic man I ever met. He always saw a bright side; he always had something good to say about everybody. He was the love of my life.</strong>" That's great stuff right there. I can only hope that when (if) I pass, somebody would say stuff like that about me. Although clowns may be universally recognized as the creepiest things ever…you have to admire the people who portray them and bring smiles to children (and occasionally make them piss their pants in fear). So long Bozo!!!<br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG_AjY3R4EI/AAAAAAAAGd0/S2dEVi_RGVc/s1600-h/eulogy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219602207347957826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG_AjY3R4EI/AAAAAAAAGd0/S2dEVi_RGVc/s320/eulogy.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_australia_funeral_hits;_ylt=AroCPSVDnn01Y24HpHtozSIjr7sF"><strong>Fun-eral Songs</strong> </a>- At Centennial Park, the largest cemetery and crematorium in the southern city of Adelaide, Australia, only two hymns still rank among its top 10 most popular funeral songs: "Amazing Grace" and "Abide With Me." Leading the funeral chart is crooner Frank Sinatra's classic hit "My Way," followed by Louis Armstrong's version of "Wonderful World." Among other less conventional choices were "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" by the Monty Python comedy team, "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead," "Hit the Road Jack," "Another One Bites the Dust" and "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead." The Led Zeppelin and AC/DC rock anthems "Stairway to Heaven" &amp; "Highway to Hell" rank outside the top 10, but have gained ground in recent years as more Australians give up traditional Christian hymns. Now, I've told my mom that there are a few VERY IMPORTANT things if (God forbid) she or anyone out there is in charge of my funeral.<br /></div><div align="left"><br /><br /></div><ol><li><div align="left"><strong>There must be an open bar</strong></div></li><li><div align="left">I want a Jazz funeral kind of procession with upbeat music…or if a live band proves too expensive…then to just play some of my premade mixes like "<strong><a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/06/making-mix-tape.html">Let's Get It On</a></strong>", "<strong><a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/07/funk-me-gently.html">Funk Me Gently</a></strong>", or "<strong>Funk Me Again</strong>." I don't believe I've talked about the last one yet…but as you can guess, it's funky &amp; upbeat.</div></li><li><div align="left">In the pictures that will be displayed, along with the surprisingly few photos of me growing up, you have <strong>my permission to Photoshop my face on as many pictures as you want</strong>…as long as it gets a laugh. You could have me as the guy who knocked Sonny Liston out, the 5th Beatle, a tattoo on the small of Angelina's back (or newest on Megan Fox), cover of GQ magazine or some Calvin Klein underwear ad, superimposed on Tony Montana during the final shootout of Scarface, whatever.</div></li><li><div align="left"><strong>Every eulogy or speech must start with</strong> "I remember the first time that I saw $teve's penis. It was that magical (holiday) in (country or major U.S. city) and we had a few too many to drink… (story continues from there)" I don't care if it's my grandma up at the podium. My will be done.</div></li><li><div align="left">Also, every eulogy or speech must contain the words "<strong>chesticles</strong>" AND "<strong>schpedoinkal</strong>" at least once…and end with the speaker giving my wax statue a high five or handshake (be gentle though, I may be brittle)<br /></div></li></ol><div align="left">There are a few others that I've forgotten over the years…but the point is that I don't want people to remember the way I died…but rather the way I lived. Trying my best to experience new things, help others, &amp; just spread the Love. Just have a good time, it's a party y'all. Hopefully this won't be an issue for another 150 years or so…but you never know. They say that the good die young…and if Billy Joel sang it, you know it has to be true.<br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG_AjTkiDcI/AAAAAAAAGd8/sJ0SGVGibBE/s1600-h/mushrooms.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219602205927148994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG_AjTkiDcI/AAAAAAAAGd8/sJ0SGVGibBE/s320/mushrooms.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/mushrooms_odd_dc;_ylt=AvAaVp5tX5T9U.J0koRuTawjr7sF">Wanna Be A Mushroom Guinea Pig?</a></strong> - Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore said Tuesday that the "spiritual" effects of psilocybin from so-called sacred mushrooms last for more than a year and may offer a way to help patients with fatal diseases or addictions. The researchers also said their findings show there are safe ways to test psychoactive drugs on willing volunteers, if guidelines are followed. Of the volunteers who took the one-day test of psilocybin, 22 of the 36 had a "complete" mystical experience, based on a detailed questionnaire. Griffiths said 21 continued to rate highly on this standardized scale 14 months later. "Even at the 14-month follow-up, 58 percent of 36 volunteers rated the experience on the psilocybin session as among the five most personally meaningful experiences of their lives and 67 percent rated it among the five most spiritually significant experiences of their lives." Now, I've never experienced mushrooms based on mixed testimony from people who shall remain nameless…but I do like the idea of this stuff being used to ease pain with fatal diseases &amp; addictions. Well, wouldn't this just replace the addiction? Well, as long as mushrooms are better than heroin or something, I guess it's okay. Anyway, keep an eye on the classifieds in your area for the chance to help experiment with these mushrooms, I guess. <strong>Be careful out there though. Experiment in moderation…and with people that you trust.<br /></div></strong><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/store_crash;_ylt=An_4Lw2HaJ13ZJwF8MfuF1sjr7sF"><strong>Or Else This Might Happen</strong> </a>- Lynne Rice of Norwalk drove her 1988 Cadillac into Joe's Food Mart and Video on Sunday evening, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Jenny Ha said. The car plowed about halfway through the store but nobody was injured. Rice got out of the car, walked over to the cooler, pulled out a six-pack of Budweiser beer, and attempted to purchase it. Needless to say, the transaction wasn't completed, Rice was taken to a hospital for examination because she had a pre-existing medical condition, arrested for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the influence, and then released on $15,000 bail. Damage to the store was put at about $8,000. Always have a designated driver. You don't wanna be in one of these stories…and these are the good ones where nobody was hurt. They really only get worse in these circumstances. Be safe out there this weekend.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="left">Anyway, that concludes the Public Service Announcement for the day. Sorry it was a little morbid...but that's just how the news was today. Man, the past few days have been kind of downers on this thing. My apologies. Maybe these will help cheer you up before you finish this.</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219602074942077938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 413px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="258" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG_AbrnQe_I/AAAAAAAAGdU/WDq_QV8_HYk/s320/pikachu.bmp" width="383" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219602073125581010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 409px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="275" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG_Abk2K8NI/AAAAAAAAGdc/r4ElDtR_Uxs/s320/potter.bmp" width="393" border="0" /> <p align="center">Okay, I'm not going to lie...</p><p align="center">This one's for me!!!<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219602068633838370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG_AbUHQYyI/AAAAAAAAGdM/a6psP6KNc5o/s320/megan2.jpg" border="0" /><br />At least I've got tomorrow off. No plans or anything...but we shall see. Have a great, fun, safe weekend!!! Hope you all enjoyed the fireworks last night!!!$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-32716640743253333042008-07-04T12:56:00.007-06:002008-07-04T13:35:04.668-06:00Thou Shalt Love the TentacleGood Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br /><strong>Happy Independence Day to all of you!!!</strong> Also, happy Anniversary to my dad &amp; stepmom!!! (I think it's 11 years now...but it's not my job to keep track) Also, a happy birthday to <strong>Geraldo Rivera</strong> while I'm at it. He turns 65 years old today. His moustache is 62. Yesterday was an incredibly laid-back day. I basically ran a few errands before it reached 100 again...and then watched a "<strong>Burn Notice</strong>" marathon on USA the rest of the day while cleaning up around the house. <strong>Bubbles</strong> stopped by around 9:30 after spending the day with her sister &amp; her family...and then we picked up her mom to hang out, have a few drinks, and watch "<strong>Bad Santa</strong>" starring Billy Bob Thornton. Great flick. Christmas classic...like "It's A Wonderful Life" but the exact opposite. That's really about it from yesterday. Around 1:30, I dropped them off, drove home, and went to bed.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG54KvaqQ8I/AAAAAAAAGcE/HpMMmK9BRRg/s1600-h/futurama.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219241144091296706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG54KvaqQ8I/AAAAAAAAGcE/HpMMmK9BRRg/s320/futurama.jpg" border="0" /></a>This morning, I watched a movie loaned to me by <a href="http://t-themadscientist.blogspot.com/"><strong>the Mad Scientist</strong> </a>called "<strong>Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs</strong>" recently released on DVD. Now, if you like Futurama, you'll greatly enjoy this movie. If you've never seen Futurama, you may end up scratching your head half the time...but it'll still get a few cheap laughs out of you. Basically, the story is set in the year 3000 (or so) about the lead character Fry (from the 20th century but cryogenically frozen and revived a thousand years later) and long story short, he's bummed. He fell in love with a girl...and found out she was a bit of a harlot. It happens. So feeling lonely &amp; loveless, he strolls into an anamoly (tear in space into another dimension) and meets up with...an enormous tentacled creature who wants nothing more than to make love to all the beings of the Gamma Universe (ours) now that it's free for its isolation in the other dimension. Anyway, I do a poor job of summary...so feel free to check out the movie yourself. If you like cartoons geared at a demographic of ages 18-30, then you'll love it.<br /><br /><br />Today I'm working late, then heading over to a party that my buddy <strong>Brooklyn</strong> invited me to that's being hosted by her friend <strong>Boston</strong>. It should be a good time. Oddly enough, it was this time last year when I first introduced to a lovely young lady by the name of <strong>Megan Fox</strong>...and then just in time for Independence Day, I get news that...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG54K1D3BuI/AAAAAAAAGcM/pNVlUvLpGzA/s1600-h/meganfox.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219241145606276834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG54K1D3BuI/AAAAAAAAGcM/pNVlUvLpGzA/s320/meganfox.bmp" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/4607457a1860.html"><strong>Megan Fox is SINGLE!!!</strong> </a>- Transformers star &amp; Maxim Magazine's Hottest Woman Alive <strong>Megan Fox</strong> has reportedly called off her engagement to former Beverly Hills 90210 actor Brian Austin Green. The 22-year-old actress is said to have ended her four-year relationship with the 34-year-old because she feels too young to settle down. A source close to Fox said: "Megan still cares about Brian, but she now realizes she's too young to marry him." Now, obviously I think Brian Austin Green should be on Suicide Watch for the next few days...but eventually he'll get over it...because God damn it, he had a four-year relationship with Megan Fox...from legal to 22. By the way, <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/03/st-nattys-day.html"><strong>he finished second in the Luckiest Man Alive nominations</strong> </a>that I decided on St. Patrick's Day (losing out to NBA player <strong>Marko Jaric</strong>, who's now engaged to <strong>Adriana Lima</strong>) but anyway, he'll be fine. Megan will also be fine...in fact, apparently she's been fine as frog's hair since the day she was born.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG54LZAb3TI/AAAAAAAAGcc/dawpKvX3Mq4/s1600-h/megan_fox2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219241155255590194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG54LZAb3TI/AAAAAAAAGcc/dawpKvX3Mq4/s320/megan_fox2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Now, do I think that I have a chance with her? Sure, but only if she knows what's good for her. If she's just going out to sow her wild oats (think about that for a minute...and try not to black out) then she'll probably go out with some douche who will treat her like sh*t and she'll think that all men are evil monkeys or something. Then a few years later, she'll look for a great guy like me (only better looking &amp; richer). It's how most women are. Do I sound bitter? Well, I am a little bit. Feel free to prove me wrong. I've pretty much decided that I'm going to make a great second husband for some lucky woman out there. Only when they've been there, done that, got f**ked over, and now want to do it the right way. Then they're lucky enough to stumble upon a diamond like me. In the meantime, I'll just do the best I can, try not to get f**ked over myself, and wait for Karma to come back around. Anyway, best of luck to both of you, Megan &amp; Brian!!! May you find the kind of Love that makes both of you complete and happy for ever &amp; ever!!!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG54LOy5WBI/AAAAAAAAGcU/01aJnpe4uJU/s1600-h/okcsonics.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219241152514447378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="193" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG54LOy5WBI/AAAAAAAAGcU/01aJnpe4uJU/s320/okcsonics.bmp" width="232" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080703/sp_nm/nba_supersonics_dc;_ylt=Avq8P454BiRnEcQPdsimtWULMxIF"><strong>Teamless in Seattle</strong> </a>- After years of discussion &amp; lawsuits, the Seattle SuperSonics will move to Oklahoma City next season after reaching a settlement with the city of Seattle, ending the 41-year Seattle team history. The city of Seattle will be paid $45 million up front and Sonics owner (and OKC native) Clay Bennet will pay an additional $30 million in five years if the city is unable to secure another NBA team. <strong>That's $75 million</strong>...and the team's name and colors will remain in Seattle. Tell me that divorce isn't expensive...even with sports teams. The announcement came just hours before a federal judge was to issue a ruling in a lawsuit between the city and the Sonics over the KeyArena lease. The city had sued the Sonics to try to force the team to continue playing in Seattle through the end of the lease in 2010. So starting next year, the team owner has brought an NBA franchise to his hometown...and now they just have to come up with a team name &amp; colors before the season starts around Halloween.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/08/sports-shorts-other-sorts.html"><strong>My suggestions from nearly a year ago</strong> </a>still sound like good ideas to me. Don't remember? Well, here they are again...for your convenience (and hopefully a 2% cut from profits of this new Oklahoma City franchise's merchandise sales). Originally, the <strong>OKC Sonics</strong> would have worked because fast food chain <strong><a href="http://www.sonicdrivein.com/">Sonic's</a></strong> headquarters are there...but the team name has to stay in Seattle. So a close second in my would be the <strong>Bombers</strong> (unless it's still too soon, of course). Let's see what OKC is famous for. There's the warehouse district turned trendy shopping area called Bricktown...so the <strong>OKC Bricks</strong>? No, that's really bad for a basketball team. It's known as the 'Horse Show Capital of the World' so how about the <strong>OKC Horses</strong>? Or <strong>Clydesdales</strong>? There's that whole Grapes of Wrath Dust Bowl thing, so how about the <strong>Dusters</strong>? Anyway, best of luck to you Mr. Bennet. Congratulations on realizing your dream...and my condolences to the city of Seattle (psst, see if you can get the Clippers to move up there or something...because nobody cares about them in Los Angeles).<br /><br /><br />Also, speaking of team colors &amp; whatnot, the <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/06/be-next-betsy-ross-or-ross-betsy.html"><strong>ULTIMATE CHALLENGE</strong> </a>is still on-going &amp; awaiting your entry. The Great <a href="http://codenameblogtastica.blogspot.com/"><strong>Mediocre Gatsby</strong> </a>has already expressed interest &amp; I can only assume is painstakingly overseeing every aspect of the <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/06/be-next-betsy-ross-or-ross-betsy.html"><strong>Flag of $tevonia's</strong> </a>design between projects ranging from space exploration to hallucinogenic pancake research. I'm curious to see what kind of incredible ideas you can come up with. You could be the next Betsy Ross or Ross Betsy and win the plethora of prizes.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, I hope that all of you have a wonderful 4th of July weekend with your family &amp; friends. Be safe out there...and remember, don't drink &amp; drive...and don't drink &amp; light fireworks either. Let the kids do it. They're smaller targets &amp; have faster reflexes. Have a great weekend!!! (Megan, call me)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219241482489914674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG54ecDLZTI/AAAAAAAAGcs/d1PhA0qKmSU/s320/megan.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219241515805578850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG54gYKQFmI/AAAAAAAAGc0/MO-ErHsDMCw/s320/megan_fox.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">It's just like the tattoo says, "There once was a little girl</div><div align="center">who never knew Love until a boy broke her heart"</div><div align="center">(then she called Dr. Mookie Love on his cell &amp; arranged a rendezvous)</div><div align="center">HOLLA!!!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219241476582417378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SG54eGCuI-I/AAAAAAAAGck/C65BvfXKXcc/s320/fox.jpg" border="0" />$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-81234713738250080782007-07-05T16:42:00.001-06:002008-07-04T13:33:49.913-06:00Independence Day TheatricsHappy Independence Week!!!<br /><br />A lot of the great <strong>American pasttimes</strong> are celebrated during this time of year. Baseball games are played in the scorching heat while spectators enjoy cold flat beer, salted peanuts, &amp; hot dogs floating in relish &amp; various condiments. Children catch candy thrown at them by complete strangers riding a paper mache ship reading "Seaside High Seamen ROCK!!!" as preteens in short skirts do backflips &amp; scream the same catchy slogan. However, those activities are too early and/or too hot usually for my tastes...especially not getting to sleep until 3 AM the night before (thanks bro). So with that in mind, I went to another holiday tradition...seeing a great action movie...this year, it was a 10 AM showing of "Transformers the Movie" with my brother &amp; sister-in-law...but first, allow to reminisce about past movies.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro2xKsIhgOI/AAAAAAAAAP0/GN6Evehz_mM/s1600-h/ID4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083914351574876386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="192" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro2xKsIhgOI/AAAAAAAAAP0/GN6Evehz_mM/s320/ID4.jpg" width="235" border="0" /></a>It seems like just over a decade ago when I celebrated my first weekend as a working man by going to my local drive-in &amp; watching "<strong>Independence Day</strong>" starring Bill "Lonestar" Pullman, the Fresh Prince &amp; Harry Connick, jr. I was mildly surprised at first when I realized that it wasn't a musical but quickly became intrigued (Vivica Fox stripping) when the action hit the screen. It was a great memory for me...because it was a great movie, watched with my family, in the outdoors, and I felt like a Man...who just couldn't drive a car legally quite yet. Other summer blockbusters have come &amp; gone over the years (mostly Marvel Comics brought to life) but that movie always seemed to stick with me. It has everything - rousing speechs, love stories, explosions, aliens, one-liners, space travel, secret military bases, anything that a great action movie needs. Now there's another movie that joins its ranks...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro2xHcIhgNI/AAAAAAAAAPs/SkcL6dHlT30/s1600-h/camaro.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083914295740301522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="195" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro2xHcIhgNI/AAAAAAAAAPs/SkcL6dHlT30/s320/camaro.bmp" width="271" border="0" /></a>"<strong>Transformers</strong>" is without a doubt the coolest, most action-packed, entertaining car commercial of all time. It's even a pretty great movie too...especially based on the material. Michael Bay comes through (still not forgiven for "Pearl Harbor" but still...kudos). As far as my claim as the greatest car commercial, I only say that because they introduce the new lineup of GMC/Chevrolet vehicles...and I'm very excited that they're FINALLY bringing back the Camaro. They also had several other models like the Pontiac Solstice &amp; GMC Yukon. Somebody paid a lot of money to finance this project...but I still enjoyed it emensely. Bills have to be paid. The special effects were amazing...in particular a chase scene on the freeway &amp; the final battle. The movie's also loaded with a lot of little jokes &amp; references for both new people to the material &amp; avid cartoon nerds like myself.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro2xNcIhgPI/AAAAAAAAAP8/ylP8R--1SnU/s1600-h/MeganFox.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083914398819516658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro2xNcIhgPI/AAAAAAAAAP8/ylP8R--1SnU/s320/MeganFox.jpg" border="0" /></a>By the way, it may just be me...but I think that the young girl in this movie (<strong>Megan Fox</strong>) may be a big star some day. It may just be her eyes hypnotizing me or something...but just keep an eye on her. Also, if you've watched the movie...and couldn't place the voice of Megatron...it's Hugo Weaving (Smith in the Matrix, V for Vendetta, etc.) but the voices are digitized &amp; stuff...so don't feel bad. I know...it just sounded familiar. Anyway, I would recommend to anybody to go see this movie. I really enjoyed it...and I was skeptical...but I got over it. Now, I just have to wait another two years for the sequel. Ooops, did I say too much???<br /><br /><br /><br />After the movie, I actually went &amp; bought the PS3 game and it is quite entertaining as well. I'm usually not a big fan of the games like Gundam, Armored Core, Exo Squad, Zone of Enders, &amp; all of those...but this is surprisingly different in some ways that I like. After playing for a few hours with my brother, we went up to my mom's with his family &amp; enjoyed fireworks...another great holiday tradition. I've also included some pictures of my nieces <strong>Kairi &amp; Kelaudri</strong> for your viewing pleasure. I hope that you enjoy.<br /><br /><br />This is Kelaudri, my 3-year old niece who I've seen twice now. She's got a cute smile...but she's painfully shy around me...but she's getting used to me.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083921730328690994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro234MIhgTI/AAAAAAAAAQc/zRmrZSJecQc/s320/Kelaudri.JPG" border="0" />Here's what happens when you show a three-year old how to take a picture...and it gets switched around a little bit. This was supposed to be a picture of me...but I like this one better.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083921915012284738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro24C8IhgUI/AAAAAAAAAQk/xrRC1jVSRl8/s320/Kel2.JPG" border="0" />Here's a picture of me with the two nieces, Kairi &amp; Kelaudri. I'm the big one on the right with the dirt on my face and the eyes squinted. That's just how I look...it's not a particularly bad picture.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083921232112484642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro23bMIhgSI/AAAAAAAAAQU/gXFskREuUJ4/s320/SKK.JPG" border="0" />Here are some pictures of our private fireworks display in the mountains of Eden. I thought they were kinda cool.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083922718171169138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro24xsIhgXI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/d8Upo3ZzDgE/s320/FW3.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083922112580780370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro24OcIhgVI/AAAAAAAAAQs/Do0PT1jJQtg/s320/FW1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083922421818425698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro24gcIhgWI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/9BuGwxHRoLw/s320/FW2.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro2xS8IhgRI/AAAAAAAAAQM/njuoYA_w_6Y/s1600-h/zebrula.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083914493308797202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="221" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro2xS8IhgRI/AAAAAAAAAQM/njuoYA_w_6Y/s320/zebrula.jpg" width="262" border="0" /></a><strong>News of the Day</strong> - I just wanted to mention this clip because of the picture of this <strong>Zebrula </strong>(half horse/half zebra) named Eclyse. She was born on a ranch in Italy but has recently moved to Germany in search of work at the Safaripark. It is still under discussion whether she is an Italian hybrid animal, a photoshop hoax, or just a filly who enjoys her new hair dying kit...but scientists say that the first scenario is the most likely. Please enjoy!!!<br /></div><br /><div>Sometimes I wonder, <strong>"Am I smarter than a 5th grader?"</strong>. I would like to think that I am...you know...because of the college education, personal experience, &amp; ability to control the volume of my voice indoors. However, I wish there was a way where I could be absolutely sure...like a competition against a dozen of the finest 5th graders in a particular region. A Battle Royale of Wits...and multiplication tables. I will even expose my Achilles heel to any challengers - Reading Comprehension. Having said that, I welcome all challengers. Wait, perhaps I will pitch this idea to a major television studio...and they could even get one of those Blue Collar comedian guys to host it to play with that whole Southern stereotype. That would be entertaining, I think. However, I only represent the causasian male, 18-28, college educated demographic that watches TV about 3 hours per week (may be getting Comcast soon). I wonder what you all think about this idea. Please let me know.</div><div></div><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro2xP8IhgQI/AAAAAAAAAQE/uKY9-opxc6M/s1600-h/reeses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083914441769189634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/Ro2xP8IhgQI/AAAAAAAAAQE/uKY9-opxc6M/s320/reeses.jpg" border="0" /></a>Lucky Moment of the Day</strong> - What luck!!! My buddy Nikki was kind enough to give me a small package of Reese's Pieces. As if that wasn't a blessed occasion alone, I shook the bag for a little snackie poo at my desk...and what comes out but seven orange pieces of Reese. What are the odds of all seven pieces being the new black? One in 2,187. Those are some lofty odds...but I overcame them...and am rewarded with seven of the tastiest bits of culinary bliss imaginable. I may be getting lucky tonight overcoming those kind of odds...and I'll surely keep you posted...but the odds are very similar to the 1:2187. I'll keep my fingers crossed.</div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-43891247486935437372008-01-20T13:21:00.001-07:002008-07-04T13:33:09.302-06:00Party Like A Rock StarGood Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />Last night was AWESOME!!! I picked up <strong>Bubbles</strong> and she informed me that there was a dress code for Habits...so had to change out of my standard dive attire of blue jeans &amp; an orange Utah Blaze shirt (I know, it sounds hot) and into my club attire...which because I don't go clubbing (except occasional baby seals) and have no sense of fashion...was a pair of slacks and my gaudiest Hawaiian shirt. The best part about the shirt though...is even if the ladies weren't biting...there's a hot Polynesian princess all over me. Luckily, the ladies were biting...well, sort of. All the coworker ladyfriends were there (most without their respective males) and they brought the ladies out too. So there was your boy, Dr. Mookie Love, completely surrounded by the <strong>HOTTEST LADIES IN THE PLACE</strong>!!! That's right. I said it. I thought it several times at the club. I'm sure that the pictures that the ladies took would confirm that...but I didn't take any.<br /><div><div><div><br />As I glanced around and saw...well, I was usually drawn to the cleavage on display...but beyond that, I realized that there were a lot of middle-aged people looking for that 2nd or 3rd marriage...and a lot of horrible dancing. Now granted, club dancing is not my forte (that would be ballroom dancing) but I never like to dance on a crowded floor (where my elbows can become lethal weapons) so I resorted to doing some Seat Dancing and entertaining the ladies...and being introduced to these beverages called <strong>Minderasers</strong>. Thankfully, they didn't work...but maybe I just didn't have enough of them. Good times were had by all. Thank you for inviting me ladies...and I hope that your headaches are less severe than mine.<br /></div><div><br /><strong>Kooky Dream</strong> - Okay, here's what I remember from my crazy dreams last night...which is pretty standard when I've had a few alcoholic beverages. I was walking around...what I think was the University of Utah with none other than <strong>Foxy</strong>. The thing was that we were talking (I don't remember about what) and she walked into a wall...and of course I was like, "Oh snaps, are you okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine." "Well, I know that...but are you okay?" Smile. We continue walking...BAM!!! Again into a wall. "You need to watch where you're going, girl. Otherwise you're gonna give yourself a concussion or something." This continued for about four THUNKS until we came to a large group of people at the base of what appeared to be a really steep concrete road that led up to a stadium. There was a loudspeaker that yelled out "GO!!!" and everybody started running up this steep concrete hill. Foxy starts towards it and looks back at me "Come on!!! We can beat these guys!!!" Sure, why not? So we start running up the hill too.<br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyE2SZ_jI/AAAAAAAADas/0UJWi-wK5kc/s1600-h/transformers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157661794631286322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyE2SZ_jI/AAAAAAAADas/0UJWi-wK5kc/s320/transformers.jpg" border="0" /></a>About half way up, there's some commosion and screaming...followed by car projectiles and people being thrown about...by <strong>Transformers</strong>. (There's a reason this thing is called a kooky dream) Explosions are going off all around. Up the hill is Constructicons throwing vehicles. Below the hill are those jet Decepticons doing their thing. All of a sudden, Optimus Prime (from the waste up) is barking orders and holding his lightsabre sword thing...but can't move...because his legs are running around about 50 yards away and kicking Decepticons in the ass. I'm looking around for Foxy &amp; other people in need of help when I hear her to my left. Just then, a giant robot lands right next to me and aims a blaster or a flamethrower or who knows what...but it's aimed at me...so I start rolling like Dre in a lowrider...only faster towards Foxy. The concrete gives way. THUNK!!! I wake up on the ground next to my bed. That's right, I rolled out of bed unintentionally for the first time since I was a kid. Anyway, looking forward to watching the NFC &amp; AFC Championship games today. <strong>My picks are the Patriots &amp; Packers</strong>...because I think that'd be the ultimate game to watch. Brett's Legacy vs. Brady's Perfection. I think that's what everybody wants to see. Anyway, here's the news...<br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OxzWSZ_cI/AAAAAAAADZ0/tZvzmHY6m9o/s1600-h/fullmoon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157661493983575490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="250" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OxzWSZ_cI/AAAAAAAADZ0/tZvzmHY6m9o/s320/fullmoon.jpg" width="235" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20080118/sc_space/fullmoonnamesfor2008;_ylt=AikO99bi1ex7sV_Y_0wR5dgbr7sF"><strong>Full Moons Named for 2008</strong> </a>- Monday night / Tuesday morning will mark the first full moon of the year. Full moon names were bestowed by the Native Americans of what is now the northern and eastern United States. A few hundred years ago, those tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. The moon on Monday will be the <strong>Full Wolf Moon</strong>...which is odd because it's close to my dad's birthdays and he's really big on Native American customs and Wolves. Awesome. Personally, I'm really looking forward to the <strong>Full Pink Moon on April 20th</strong>. I'm just a little intrigued as to what that means...and being so close to my own birthday...and being on 4/20 for all you smokers out there. Feel free to check out the link for a complete listing if you're interested.<br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyEGSZ_gI/AAAAAAAADaU/TBiPADMoemk/s1600-h/mice.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157661781746384386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyEGSZ_gI/AAAAAAAADaU/TBiPADMoemk/s320/mice.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080117/sc_livescience/humanscraveviolencejustlikesex;_ylt=AsW2Fv8gjSEeS.zAw.hHbugbr7sF"><strong>Bush vs. Gore</strong> </a>- New research on mice shows the brain processes aggressive behavior as it does other rewards. <strong>Mice sought violence, in fact, picking fights for no apparent reason other than the rewarding feeling</strong>. The mouse brain is thought to be analogous to the human brain in this study, which could shed light on our fascination with savage &amp; brutal sports as well as our own penchant for the classic bar brawl. The researcher says that humans crave violence just like they do sex, food, or drugs. "Aggression occurs among virtually all vertebrates and is necessary to get and keep important resources such as mates, territory and food," By the way, did I mention that I'm picking the Packers &amp; Patriots in the game today? Okay, cool. Did I mention any sexual frustration, that there was no food in my house, and I don't do drugs? No? Well, maybe I get my violence out by watching other large men beat the crap out of eachother...or just beat the living Hell out of my Rock Band drum set. To be perfectly honest though, I prefer Bush to Gore...though after reading this information on the study, I'd really like to see the mice have a bar brawl. "Oh look, Mickey's going for the stool. Turn around Speedy!!! AAGGGGH!!! He pulled a knife on him. Where the hell did he get that? Oh man, now Mighty's going to jump from the top of the water bottle again. Watch this, it's classic. HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAAAAAAY!!!" Intrigued how it turns out? I thought you would be.<br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OxzWSZ_bI/AAAAAAAADZs/UrmG2wAM5KA/s1600-h/contacts.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157661493983575474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="172" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OxzWSZ_bI/AAAAAAAADZs/UrmG2wAM5KA/s320/contacts.jpg" width="191" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080118/sc_livescience/newcontactlensesgobionic;_ylt=AvUXnw2RSXotBOrqlkJZlE8br7sF"><strong>Bionic Eyes</strong> </a>- Everybody has thought about being a Terminator, Bionic Woman, Six Million Dollar Man, Predator, Robocop, or some other cybernetic badass. Scientists have taken the first step toward creating <strong>digital contact lenses that can zoom in on distant objects and display useful facts</strong>. For the first time, engineers have installed an electronic circuit and lights on a regular contact lens. It was difficult for the researchers to graft the tiny electrical circuits, built from layers of metal only a few nanometers thick (for comparison, the width of a typical human hair is about 80,000 nanometers), onto the contact lenses, which are made of organic materials that are safe for the body...but at the rate of scientific innovation, they may have it figured out within a decade. Just think of the possibilities - ability to see great distances with absolute clarity, while pulling up coordinates, information about what you're seeing, prices of admission, movie times, basically accessing the internet while you're looking at it.<br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyIWSZ_kI/AAAAAAAADa0/TqpRDhUyFic/s1600-h/xray.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157661854760828482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="230" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyIWSZ_kI/AAAAAAAADa0/TqpRDhUyFic/s320/xray.jpg" width="217" border="0" /></a>Don't forget about infrared, X-RAY VISION, maybe even some kind of diagnostic system that will pull up information on a subject that you're checking out at a club. "Jane Doe, Age: 24, Credit Rating: 425, Marital Status: Divorced with two kids, Turn-ons: Tall guys, fake Spanish accents, and Blogs, Turnoffs: Cowboys fans, Baggage: Meth addiction and currently on probation for chopping her ex-husband's penis, Suggestion: ABORT MISSION!!!" Just so you're aware. The meth addiction was the deal breaker. I'm sure her ex deserved to have his fickle pickle cut off (Cruel &amp; unusual? I mean...isn't cutting off genitalia some kind of crazy Arab thing?) but still...just to know that it has happened...makes you a little skiddish. Anyway, it could come in handy. "Age: 16, ABORT IMMEDIATELY. ADMIRE FROM AFAR."<br /></div><div><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">TV Animated Movies</span></strong> - Some were made into live-action movies, some kept the original format. Here is my personal list on the best cartoons to become movies.<br /></div><div><br /><strong>Medal Winners</strong><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyEWSZ_hI/AAAAAAAADac/FrdeRuTeWnA/s1600-h/rachael.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157661786041351698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyEWSZ_hI/AAAAAAAADac/FrdeRuTeWnA/s320/rachael.jpg" border="0" /></a>Gold - Transformers (2007)</strong> - It won the $tevie for Movie of the Year last year...and I had a crazy ass dream last night about them...so they get the gold. Michael Bay did a great job of mixing incredible action, a reasonably plausible plot, a bit of romance &amp; family ties, several stories going on simultanoeusly that come together in the end, government agencies, and enough comedy to entertain even me. Oh...and Megan Fox &amp; Rachael Taylor are SUPER hot. I'm so glad that <strong><a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/11/part-6-welcome-back-kooter.html">I saved Rachael from that giant snake</a></strong>...at least in my dreams. Also, if you're interested, you may want to check out the original "<strong>Tranformers Movie</strong>" (1986) starring the voice talents of Leonard Nimoy, Eric Idle, Casey Kasum, Judd Nelson, Robert Stack, and even Orson Welles on top of all the usual voice talents. You'll recognize a lot of dialogue in the newer movie from the battle at the beginning between Optimus &amp; Megatron. Or if you're not a nerd...please disregard.<br /></div><div><br /><strong><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OxzGSZ_aI/AAAAAAAADZk/tJE1WUv-4YE/s1600-h/aeonflux.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157661489688608162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OxzGSZ_aI/AAAAAAAADZk/tJE1WUv-4YE/s320/aeonflux.jpg" border="0" /></a>Silver - Aeon Flux (2005)</strong> - Gee, why would this movie get a silver medal? Futuristic story, government supression leading to underground rebellion, assassins with cool weapons, biological warfare, fairly intriguing story based on a late-night MTV cartoon that I watched as a kid...what else...oh yeah, Charlize Theron spending the whole movie in skin-tight spandex and kicking ass. When I first heard that they were doing an Aeon Flux movie, I thought to myself "That's great...but if they do a direct representation of the TV series then it's going to be rated R (at best) and go the way of Spawn and flop." Then there was the announcement of shooting for a PG-13 rating. "They're F-U-K-T, fukt!!!" Then the announcement that Charlize Theron is the star. "This movie will make a BILLION dollars!!!" Maybe that number was slightly exaggerated...but it worked. Not quite as bloody &amp; sexy &amp; other stuff that mice crave (cheesy?) as the TV series and comics...but still really good.<br /><br /><strong></strong></div><div><strong><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyE2SZ_iI/AAAAAAAADak/GephysO-e6M/s1600-h/simpsons.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157661794631286306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="275" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyE2SZ_iI/AAAAAAAADak/GephysO-e6M/s320/simpsons.jpg" width="177" border="0" /></a>Bronze - The Simpsons Movie (2007)</strong> - The prize piece in my trilogy of animated movies in this category. After almost 20 years, they finally did a movie (and I feared ending the TV series) but it was entertaining, managed to include a vast majority of the characters without really forcing it, and had a nice wholesome story about family and sticking through hard times...even when the family's monarch is basically retarded. The second piece is "<strong>South Park: Bigger, Longer, &amp; Uncut</strong>" (1999) which already won a Bronze in my Musical List...but again, a really entertaining story, vast majority of characters, the only thing really forced was the songs, and most importantly...hilarious and true to the series. The third piece is "<strong>Beavis &amp; Butthead Do America</strong>" (1996) which I still watch occasionally...especially when it's on VH1 Movies That Rock. Mike Judge, the same director that brought you "Office Space", "Idiocracy", and "King of the Hill" made this movie and with other voice talents like Bruce &amp; Demi, Robert Stack, and Cloris Leachman. Check it out. Great soundtrack too.<br /><br /><strong></strong></div><div><strong><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyD2SZ_fI/AAAAAAAADaM/y5EP6Pdj8zc/s1600-h/masters.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157661777451417074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OyD2SZ_fI/AAAAAAAADaM/y5EP6Pdj8zc/s320/masters.jpg" border="0" /></a>Suggestion - Masters of the Universe (1987)</strong> - Who didn't like He-Man and She-Ra? Dolph Lundgren stars as the Prince of Eternia, Frank Langella as Skeletor, and even Courtney Cox is in this movie before she was in Friends...but after that Bruce Springsteen video. Sure, it's a little cheesy and Dolph goes through more baby oil than a maternity ward...but it's worth a shot. I also suggest checking out "<strong>Casper</strong>" (1995) with Christina Ricci if you haven't seen it already. It's very well done...and Bill Pullman's in it too. You love movies with Bill Pullman. I also had to through in the "<strong>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle</strong>" trilogy (1990-93) thought they are incredibly cheesy and get progressively worse. At least check out the first one if you liked the cartoons. The second one had Vanilla Ice. The third, they traveled back to ancient Japan. The new CGI "<strong>TMNT</strong>" (2007)? My mom and I both fell asleep watching it.<br /><br /><strong></strong></div><div><strong><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OxzmSZ_dI/AAAAAAAADZ8/lSVgh5LO5pM/s1600-h/inspector_gadget.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157661498278542802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="254" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OxzmSZ_dI/AAAAAAAADZ8/lSVgh5LO5pM/s320/inspector_gadget.jpg" width="158" border="0" /></a>Flush It - Inspector Gadget (1999)</strong> - So many flushable movies here...but I chose this one because Matthew Broderick is no Don Adams...and I just really didn't like this movie one bit...and I loved the TV series. I haven't seen the sequel with French Stewart but I assume it's better...because it really couldn't get worse. Also noted is "<strong>Rocky &amp; Bullwinkle</strong>" (2000) with a star studded cast including Rene Russo, Randy Quaid, Jason Alexander, Piper Perabo, Carl Reiner, John Goodman, and ROBERT DENIRO as Fearless Leader. How could this movie suck? It found a way. I haven't seen "<strong>Underdog</strong>" (2007) but then again, I don't think that anybody has...and for good reason. "<strong>Fat Albert</strong>" (2004) wasn't any good. Brendan Fraser did okay in "<strong>Dudley Do-Right</strong>" (1999) &amp; "<strong>George of the Jungle</strong>" (1997) but they weren't great. I was a little disappointed with "<strong>Mr. Magoo</strong>" (1997) but I have high expectations for Leslie Nielsen. I'll stop there. Don't worry, the two "<strong>Flintstones</strong>" movies were good. They just didn't make the list.<br /><br /><strong></strong></div><div><strong><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OxzmSZ_eI/AAAAAAAADaE/WjZUmJNu1Ak/s1600-h/jonnyquest.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157661498278542818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/R5OxzmSZ_eI/AAAAAAAADaE/WjZUmJNu1Ak/s320/jonnyquest.jpg" border="0" /></a>Future Watch - Jonny Quest (2010?)</strong> - If they don't make this movie about the kid detective with the cool gadgets and a best friend named Hadji, then they might as well do a movie based on the parody of this show, "<strong>Venture Brothers</strong>" (2010?). I also wouldn't mind seeing a live-action "<strong>Jetsons</strong>" (2009?) or JUST THE DVD BOX SET of one of my favorite shows of all time, "<strong>Duckman</strong>" (2010?). Yay for cartoons!!!<br /><br /></div><div>Have a great day everybody...and I'll see you around. Peace!!!</div></div></div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-40030553099869599132008-04-15T17:43:00.010-06:002008-07-04T13:32:42.242-06:00Black Day in LoveGood Evening Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br /><br />The past few days have been absolutely gorgeous. It was even eighty degrees yesterday…and the sun was shining…and the birds were chirping…and people were gardening, simply incredible weather. So why the f**k is it snowing today? <strong>Welcome to Utah</strong> - Don't like the weather, wait a few hours. The morning was even pretty good weather for this time of year, as I jogged to pick up my new movie rentals…but by the time I headed to work, there was snowfall. Awesome.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SAVKtVT8c7I/AAAAAAAAFQ4/8OlfD4mVGrU/s1600-h/juno.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189636288289731506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="258" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SAVKtVT8c7I/AAAAAAAAFQ4/8OlfD4mVGrU/s320/juno.jpg" width="219" border="0" /></a>One of the movies that I checked out was "<strong>Juno</strong>" with Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, and Jennifer Garner. Of course I had heard the hype about it being absolutely awesome and nominated for Best Picture…and it didn't disappoint. It was clever (though obviously written by a fellow smartass, kudos to Diablo Cody) though a little sappy at times. It's a romantic-comedy, what do you expect. Oh, so for those who don't know, it's about this 16-year old girl Juno (Page) who has a one-night fling with long-time friend Bleeker (Cera) and she's pregnant…but instead of getting a schmushmortion, she decides to go through with the pregnancy so that a wonderful couple (Garner &amp; Bateman) can have a child.<br /><br /><br /><br />Watching the movie, I found myself wondering, what if I were in a situation like that at age sixteen. Not the being pregnant part, because I don't even feign to think about that kind of stuff (my psychiatrist agrees it's a good idea) but what if I were…say Bleeker (the sweet, quiet, awkward, geeky kid who played sports and wore short shorts...yeah, that was pretty much me) and I had one night of awkward teenage intercourse, then BAM I've got a kid on the way. Again, it's that "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it" motto that I try to live by. I'm pretty sure that I could handle it now…but at 16, probably not. I mean…I was a mature kid…but I worked at a grocery store. I would have had a lot on my still-growing mind. "Paper or latex?" "What?" "Sorry, ugh…paper or plastic bags?" Anyway, it's a funny movie and I think you should all check it out. Loved the soundtrack throughout the movie by the way. It's amazing how beautiful music can be with just an acoustic guitar, the human voice, and sincere words. Anyway, here's some news...<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SAVKqlT8c6I/AAAAAAAAFQw/b3RMjXfRbf4/s1600-h/blackday.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189636241045091234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="169" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SAVKqlT8c6I/AAAAAAAAFQw/b3RMjXfRbf4/s320/blackday.jpg" width="197" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/blackday_dc;_ylt=AjBjnImj1MtpVpDJ71siKbcjr7sF"><strong>Black Day of Love</strong> </a>- Did you know that South Korea celebrates Valentine's Day? Me neither. The twist…local custom dictates that women give gifts to MEN. Now, before you get all uppity about how that's sexist and blah blah blah, let it be known that a month later, on March 14th, they celebrate <strong>White Day</strong> and the favor is returned by guys giving gifts to their loved ones. However, on April 14th (yesterday) is <strong>Black Day</strong>, where people who have not found love dress in dark colors and commiserate over meals of black food, with the dish of choice being Chinese-style noodles topped with a thick sauce of black bean paste. At universities across the country on Monday, students without lunch dates ordered black noodles, dined with other lonely hearts and searched for companionship. Wait, there's more…and you can tell that marketers live in Korea…because they've hatched special days on the 14th of EVERY month to create twelve days a year of this stuff. For example, on August 14th is <strong>Green Day</strong>, when couples are supposed to drink cheap liquor that comes in green bottles and walk in the woods…and I'm sure they listen to Grammy-winning punk-rock music too. Billie Joe, Tre Cool, and Mike Dirnt have to be involved somehow. Anyway, I like the idea of Black Day. Not because it's making fun of or single-out those who don't have that special somebody in their lives…but because they usually end up hanging out in big groups, eating noodles with nasty bean paste on them, talking about how lonely they are, and I guarantee that at least ONE hook-up was made…even if just for pity sex. Maybe this'll spread to the U.S. some day. I'd better get me a black shirt or something in that case.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_nose_blown_balloons;_ylt=AsQHosdH0J0zsqECkFraP9Ijr7sF"><strong>Full of Hot Air</strong> </a>- Blowing through one nostril at a time, 13-year-old Andrew Dahl inflated <strong>213 balloons within an hour </strong>Friday — a feat that has been submitted for review by Guinness World Records. His father, Doug Dahl, measured the balloons to make sure each was at least 20 centimeters, the minimum diameter, and his mother, Wendy Dahl, kept the tally. Andrew's first attempt (184 balloons in February) was rejected because his father tied the balloons. This time he tied them off himself. It's always great to see a family working together in order to…well, I guess get their name into a book of records. Honestly, do they really release the full book of records anyway? How would you look this particular record up anyway? "Let's see…under Physical Feats…Human Beings...Timed and…in One hour. Okay, we've got Running, Jumping, Sucking, AHA Blowing…oooh, a list of orifices, we'll go with Nasal…aaand Balloons, right above Balls tehehehe…okay, we've got Andrew Dahl of Blaine, Washington blowing 213 Balloons in One Hour with his Nose. I'll be damned, that kid we hung up on the flagpole really was in the Guinness Book of World Records. Good for him. What page was that picture of the World's Biggest Boobs?"<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SAVKnVT8c5I/AAAAAAAAFQo/5PD-rJNEgy4/s1600-h/beef.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189636185210516370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="163" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SAVKnVT8c5I/AAAAAAAAFQo/5PD-rJNEgy4/s320/beef.jpg" width="176" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/uruguay_barbecue_dc;_ylt=Ak6HWFdvwpLfZhjAV3R7T8Mjr7sF"><strong>World's Biggest Cookout</strong> </a>- Another World Record set this week was in Montevideo, Uruguay where more than a thousand barbecue fanatics<strong> grilled up 12 metric tons (26,400 lbs) of beef</strong> on Sunday, setting a new Guinness world record while promoting the country's top export. Army personnel set up a grill nearly a mile long and firefighters lit six tons of charcoal to kick off the gargantuan cookout. Some 1,250 people grilled the beef and about 20,000 spectators cried with joy when a Guinness judge confirmed the barbecue record had been broken. "I'm very proud to be Uruguayan. We have the best beef and now we have the world's biggest barbecue," said one of the volunteer cooks. That dirty mother lover!!! Do you believe that? He claimed that Uruguay, not the U.S. of A. has the BEST beef…AND the biggest barbecue. Are you just gonna sit there and take that? Texas? Nebraska? America? That sounds like a challenge to me. Twelve tons? I think I've seen that much at a Cowboys pre-game party…and we don't even need help from our military. Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there…maybe ruffle a few feathers (clap clap clap clap) deep in the heaaaart of Texas to see if we could one-up Uruguay. I'm sure it was some delicious barbecue…what with some tropical fruit sauces or something. Who knows? Maybe it is the BEST barbecue on this planet…but there's only one way to find out, that's all I'm saying.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SAVKzVT8c8I/AAAAAAAAFRA/hcFNxAKo7Zc/s1600-h/meganfox.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189636391368946626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SAVKzVT8c8I/AAAAAAAAFRA/hcFNxAKo7Zc/s320/meganfox.bmp" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.darkhorizons.com/news08/080414a.php"><strong>Jennifer's Body</strong> </a>- Speaking of a hot, succulent piece of meat that I'd like to sink my teeth into, <strong>Megan Fox's</strong> new movie "<strong>Jennifer's Body</strong>" sounds fairly interesting. Directed by Karyn Kasuma ("Aeon Flux" &amp; "Girlfight") &amp; written by Diablo Cody ("Juno"), this horror-comedy is about a gorgeous cheerleader (Fox) possessed by a demon and she starts feeding off the boys in a small Minnesota farming town. According to producer Jason Reitman, Fox also gets into a fight with costar Amanda Seyfried (Sarah on "Big Love") in their underwear…and will be appearing topless in a scene in which she has lured a guy into the woods. She'll be wearing a skirt and apparently her hair will cover some parts…but I have a vivid imagination. Anyway, no need to thank me, just pay it forward. This will at least hold you over until "<strong>Jack &amp; Diane</strong>" comes out. You remember, right? The story of lesbian werewolves in New York? Here's <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/01/full-moon-funky.html">the link to that one</a>.<br /><br /><br />That'll do it for today. Still waiting for suggestions to celebrate the anniversary of my birth…and a big thanks to <strong><a href="http://baruafam.blogspot.com/">Alisa</a></strong> for coming into work today to say hi, show off her beautiful baby boy, and give me some delicious sugar cookies shaped like alligators and flamingoes. Oh…and she suggested Taffy Town, where they give out free fudge samples and have some allegedly amazing Cran-Raspberry Taffy for my birthday. I'll definitely have to keep that in mind. You rock, <strong><a href="http://baruafam.blogspot.com/">Alisa</a></strong>!!! Have a great day everybody!!! Here's a lovely thought from Megan Fox to send us off...<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189636451498488786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SAVK21T8c9I/AAAAAAAAFRI/c2-ifMEYBk0/s320/meganfox2.jpg" border="0" />$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-64140847011506395432008-04-25T09:38:00.009-06:002008-07-04T13:32:19.471-06:00Birthday EveGood Morning Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEKZ-fk0I/AAAAAAAAFWo/xJ4B2e_bo24/s1600-h/alpacino.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193217897129808706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEKZ-fk0I/AAAAAAAAFWo/xJ4B2e_bo24/s320/alpacino.jpg" border="0" /></a>First off, a very happy birthday to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_pacino"><strong>Alfredo James Pacino</strong> </a>today as he turns 68. He's one of greatest actors of all time...and the list of movies include "The Godfather" trilogy, "Scarface", "Scent of a Woman", "Dog Day Afternoon", "Serpico", "Heat", "Carlito's Way", "Insomnia", "Any Given Sunday", "Devil's Advocate", "Donnie Brasco", "Ocean's 13", even "Dick Tracy" as Big Boy. His newest "Righteous Kill" comes out soon, costarring Robert DeNiro &amp; 50 Cent. Should be another classic. Anyway, have a great birthday buddy!!! I hope they don't make you work 18 hours today filming that Salvador Dali biopic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEYp-fk5I/AAAAAAAAFXQ/Q-jiqya-Sis/s1600-h/revolver.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193218141942944658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEYp-fk5I/AAAAAAAAFXQ/Q-jiqya-Sis/s320/revolver.jpg" border="0" /></a>Last night, I watched Guy Ritchie's latest movie (director of "Lock, Stock, &amp; Two Smokin' Barrels", "Snatch", etc.) called "<strong>Revolver</strong>" starring Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Andre Benjamin (Dre 3000 from Outkast) and others. It's about a former con man (Statham) who spent 7 years in jail for taking the fall...and is now looking to get paid. That's about all that I'm going to tell you at this point...because from there, it gets really awkward at times...but I would definitely recommend it, especially if you like Guy Ritchie (Mr. Madonna) movies.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIELJ-fk3I/AAAAAAAAFXA/xwxegD-ABes/s1600-h/peta.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193217910014710642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIELJ-fk3I/AAAAAAAAFXA/xwxegD-ABes/s320/peta.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080421/sc_afp/usrightsanimalsoffbeat;_ylt=Ar1qNyHOLVuH.ZN7SCDGYyIbr7sF"><strong>Test Tube Meat</strong> </a>- See what I miss when I'm too busy at work? Stories like these BEG me to make fun of them. The animal rights group PETA is putting up a <strong>million dollar reward</strong> for anyone who by 2012 can <strong>grow in-vitro meat that looks and tastes like the real thing</strong>. "In-vitro meat production would use animal stem cells that would be placed in a medium to grow and reproduce. The result would mimic flesh and could be cooked and eaten," PETA said in a statement. The million-dollar reward will go to the participant who manages by 2012 to put test-tube chicken into commercial production and successful sell it in at least 10 US states at a competitive price. The New York Times revealed Monday that <strong>the scheme almost triggered a civil war within the headquarters of the organization</strong> dedicated to fighting for animal rights but PETA argued the move would help avoid unnecessary suffering. "More than 40 billion chickens, fish, pigs, and cows are killed every year for food in the United States in horrific ways. In-vitro meat would spare animals from this suffering. In addition, in-vitro meat would dramatically reduce the devastating effects the meat industry has on the environment. Humans don't need to eat meat at all" since many people continued "to refuse to kick their meat addictions, PETA is willing to help them gain access to flesh that doesn't cause suffering and death."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Okay, so PETA's giving approval for stem cell research…as long as it's using animal stem cells. Aren't they some of the advocates for stopping stem cell research on humans? Actually, probably not…because humans aren't that important to them, right? Sorry, I'm not too familiar with PETA. Maybe somebody can shed some light for me. Too lazy to go to their website…and I don't want the government following me more than they already do. (Shhhhh, they're listening) Anyway, how do you make meat…without making the animal? Really? Is it going to be like the episode of South Park I saw the other day, where they grow ears (and other appendages) on the backs of rats…but instead of cartilage, it'll be a T-bone? I guess that's literally the million-dollar question. I like the idea of a PETA civil war over this though. "Now we're talking about growing test tube steaks? I thought we were trying to turn the world vegetarian." "No, don't you see? If they're in a test tube, they won't feel pain…and we'll be distracting scientists from finding cures for diseases…and instead finding an other other OTHER white meat." "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." "Oh yeah, well I've got a test tube steak for ya right here, granola boy!!!" Slap fight ensues. $teve laughs at the thought. Hahaha!!! Besides, I'm a big fan of stem cells, as you may know from my occasion updates in the world of science…such as <strong><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/heart_cells_dc;_ylt=AmY5xIJ2P8CvVnh0s4r_IqUbr7sF">they can now turn stem cells into heart cells</a></strong>. Yay scientists!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEJ5-fkzI/AAAAAAAAFWg/ti0Q8AnW2bM/s1600-h/afrika.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193217888539874098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEJ5-fkzI/AAAAAAAAFWg/ti0Q8AnW2bM/s320/afrika.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/witchcraft_dc;_ylt=An99YxbRg7X3JuSfzf3ByIojr7sF"><strong>Penis Theft in the Congo</strong> </a>- I couldn't make this sh*t up if I wanted to. Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of <strong>using black magic to steal or shrink men's penises</strong> after a wave of panic and attempted <strong>lynchings</strong> triggered by the alleged witchcraft. Reports of so-called <strong>penis snatching are not uncommon in West Africa</strong>, where belief in traditional religions and witchcraft remains widespread, and where ritual killings to obtain blood or body parts still occur. Purported victims, 14 of whom were also detained by police, claimed that sorcerers simply touched them to make their genitals shrink or disappear, in what some residents said was an attempt to extort cash with the promise of a cure. Police arrested the accused sorcerers and their victims in an effort to avoid <strong>the sort of bloodshed seen in Ghana a decade ago</strong>, when 12 suspected penis snatchers were beaten to death by angry mobs. The 27 men have since been released.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Holy crap!!! So much disturbing information to take in those few sentences. Mother Afrika, I love ya…but you are one crazy place to live. Sure, here in America we tease little kids with "<strong>Oop, got your nose</strong>" and they enjoy it…but apparently it's universal that if you even pretend to take away a man's hood, they will lynch you. Even the police chief said, "I'm tempted to say it's one huge joke but when you try to tell the victims that their penises are still there, they tell you that it's become tiny or that they've become impotent. To that I tell them, 'How do you know if you haven't gone home and tried it?" <strong>The Power of Suggestion</strong>, ladies &amp; gentlemen. It's an incredible thing. Or maybe there really are mystics in the Congo shrinking heads &amp; shafts and turning silverback gorillas into vicious killing machines…or maybe that was just a movie. Regardless, I'm glad that the police stepped in to save them…for now. Now there are three things that scare me…nuclear war, carnies, and penis theft.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEKp-fk1I/AAAAAAAAFWw/UEpDtwsN1jg/s1600-h/brothel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193217901424776018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEKp-fk1I/AAAAAAAAFWw/UEpDtwsN1jg/s320/brothel.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/oukoe_uk_britain_policeman;_ylt=AjngcWCXAsDZdyRTLIWO8SEjr7sF"><strong>Going Undercover</strong> </a>- A police officer was forced to resign on Wednesday for having sex with a prostitute at a building he had been sent to investigate to see if it was a brothel. The police sergeant, who was not named, had "engaged in sexual activity with a sex worker" while on duty in east London in December 2005, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said. He was supposed to be finding out if the premises were being used for prostitution. You know, I'm not an officer of the law…or a lawyer or anything…but I would say, "<strong>Mission Accomplished!!!</strong>" That's what I call good police work. Going undercover, into enemy territory, infiltrating the trust of the organization, learning all the ins &amp; outs of the operation, obtaining leads into subsidiaries and other markets, gathering evidence to be used in a court of law, and catching the perpetrators red-handed…or I guess, lotion-handed or whatever they were into at the time. All while earning a measly worker's salary and even offering to investigate when he wasn't "on the clock" as they say. Going above and beyond the call of duty. I say good show, sir. I'm sorry that your fellow (jealous) officers don't feel the same way. Oh well, I'm sure they'd hire you on at the brothel as a bouncer or something. Maybe it's a change for the better.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEYJ-fk4I/AAAAAAAAFXI/lFSHlkKEjSg/s1600-h/meganfox.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193218133353010050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEYJ-fk4I/AAAAAAAAFXI/lFSHlkKEjSg/s320/meganfox.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080424/ap_en_tv/people_megan_fox_5"><strong>She's a Fox</strong> </a>- According to <a href="http://www.fhmonline.com/girls_100_sexiest_2008.asp?cnl_id=1&amp;stn_id=156">FHM Magazine's annual 100 Sexiest Women in the World </a>poll, star of "Transformers" <strong>Megan Fox</strong> is the world's sexiest woman. Honestly, I really can't argue with that. She's…absolutely gorgeous…and has those sexy eyes, bangin' smile, rockin' tatas, and…yeah, I'll go with that. I mean…nine million votes can't be wrong, right? Rounding out the top ten on the list were Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Elisha Cuthbert, Scarlett Johannsen, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Hilary Duff (WHAT???), Tricia Helfer, Blake Lively, and Kate Beckinsale. Friends of the blog made the list as well, like Angelina at #12, Adriana Lima was #36, Amanda Beard at #71, and my buddies Lindsay Lohan made the list at #16 &amp; Li'l Shaky at #55, but in the <strong>biggest publicist move of all time </strong>- Britney Spears at Number 100. Oh...and Milla Jovovich didn't make the list...instead Meg from Family Guy did (Mila Kunis). That's almost as bad as Hilary Duff getting Number 7. Oh well, it's not my list…but yeah, can't argue with Megan Fox on top though…in any situation. She kind of reminds me of somebody…hmm…<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193218262202028962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEfp-fk6I/AAAAAAAAFXY/dghSxASV9Mw/s320/meganfox2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">"This is a nice V6 engine you've got here."</div><div align="center">"You should see my straight 8."</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193218270791963586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEgJ-fk8I/AAAAAAAAFXo/7psjnj8jhNU/s320/meganfox4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">"Do you HAVE to go to work today?"</div><div align="center">"F**k that, I just quit."</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193218275086930898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEgZ-fk9I/AAAAAAAAFXw/q3o_lYZwwPM/s320/megan-fox.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">It's a good thing that she has an extensive library...</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193218283676865506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEg5-fk-I/AAAAAAAAFX4/oYz93yvd-vs/s320/megan-fox2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Because <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/04/double-bubble-toil-trouble.html">as mentioned before</a>, I understand "King Lear"</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193218266496996274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEf5-fk7I/AAAAAAAAFXg/nm6ID7AV9Wo/s320/meganfox3.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEK5-fk2I/AAAAAAAAFW4/MVcbatAmvYI/s1600-h/ChuckE_Cheese.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193217905719743330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="135" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SBIEK5-fk2I/AAAAAAAAFW4/MVcbatAmvYI/s320/ChuckE_Cheese.jpg" width="229" border="0" /></a>Anyway, that'll do it for me for today…<strong>my Birthday Eve</strong>. I'm doing some laundry now…but I'm going to hang with my dad &amp; stepmom for the day, have some dinner, then my mom &amp; the rest of the family are coming down tomorrow…so if you don't hear from me, don't worry. I'll just be having fun…and celebrating the 27th anniversary of my birth. Oh yeah, this just in, guess how I'm going to celebrate my birthday. I'm going to <a href="http://www.chuckecheese.com/"><strong>Chuck E. Cheese</strong> </a>with my nieces and nephew and my family. If any of you want to come along &amp; are going to be in Sandy tomorrow night, let me know. We can get you some tokens or something. Wow, I'm officially three cubed years old now. Awesome. Have a great weekend everybody!!! Call me if you wanna hang out Saturday night!!! I'm sure that the old people and kids will be going home before dark.</div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-38308128538056194442008-05-10T10:56:00.005-06:002008-07-04T13:31:36.879-06:00It's Enrico Pallazzo!!!Good Morning Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />Well, yesterday I helped my dad out with a few things around the house like mowing the lawn, moving furniture around, chauffeuring him around while his car was having an oil &amp; tire change, and going on top of the roof to fix the swamp cooler. Luckily didn't take too long to do all of that...so we got to hang out and talk a bit too. One thing struck me though...and it may just be me. It was a fairly gloomy, cloud-filled day all day which kept it fairly cool. Then, as soon as I stepped outside to mow the lawn...and go onto a shingled rooftop, the skies clear right up and it's a beautiful May day...and those shingles get really hot in direct sunlight as you may or may not know. Then, as soon as I get down from the roof, the clouds come back. Probably just coincidence.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SCXXDuWZO9I/AAAAAAAAFjQ/JSzIlQiZOM8/s1600-h/enrico.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198797803850644434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SCXXDuWZO9I/AAAAAAAAFjQ/JSzIlQiZOM8/s320/enrico.jpg" border="0" /></a>After yardwork, we sat down and watched a classic...that surprisingly my dad had never seen, "<strong>The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad</strong>" with Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, and Ricardo Montelban among others. Now, I own all three Naked Gun movies and all six episodes of the TV series they're based on...so I may have to loan them to my dad while he's recovering. He also wants to see the "Firefly" series and the movie "Serenity" (all great by the way) so I'll be dropping them off on the way to the <a href="http://www.utahblaze.com/"><strong>Utah Blaze</strong> </a>game tonight...and he can watch them after our Vegas trip that we leave for in less than four days. So excited about this trip.<br /><br />Also while at my dad's, I received a few text messages from <strong>my sister-in-law Ashley</strong> about her custody battle...and apparently it's more around $2000 that she's needing...so I basically suggested that she let it lie...because right now, Kelaudri has two families that care for her, Ashley's going to school and starting a career as a CNA, they're already struggling to support two kids, the case would require gross negligence or something like that...and that doesn't appear to be the case at all, and they'll only get to see her a few extra days a week anyway. It just seems more and more like this is an act of futility...using my money (and already a lot of my mom's) that I've saved up over the past few years to start and provide for my own family eventually. After suggesting this, she again threatened to quit school...so I elaborated on what a poor decision that would be...and she replied with childish namecalling, personal attacks, and other such nonsense. I replied professionally to the tune of "This is just my suggestion. I know that you're going to do whatever you want regardless of what I say. You know that I love you guys...but this just seems like a waste of time &amp; money right now. Finish school, start a career, raise your two other children (and my brother), and then when you can afford the house that you live in &amp; raising the four of you...then you should pursue Kelaudri." She just called this morning apologizing for the comments last night...but it's understandable...because I basically told her to give up on trying to get her oldest child. I have to admit, I was a little hurt by her words...but I quickly got over them...because I think I'm right...and hopefully she'll head my advice. Or she won't...and I'll wish her the best.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SCXXEOWZO-I/AAAAAAAAFjY/HrEm2RJ3G7A/s1600-h/evil_dead2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198797812440579042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SCXXEOWZO-I/AAAAAAAAFjY/HrEm2RJ3G7A/s320/evil_dead2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Speaking of Ash, last night, we called an impromptu Movie Night because <strong><a href="http://ninsiana0.livejournal.com/">JL Clyde</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://t-themadscientist.blogspot.com/">the Mad Scientist</a></strong>, and I were supremely bored. We met up at my place and watched "<strong>Evil Dead 2</strong>" and "<strong>Army of Darkness</strong>" which are supremely entertaining semi-horror-comedy movies from director Sam Raimi ("Spiderman" &amp; "The Quick &amp; the Dead") and starring Bruce Campbell (who I'm actually watching in the USA series "Burn Notice" as we speak. Weird.). Anyway, check them out. They're just crazy to watch and you won't regret it. You get my money back guarantee. If it sucks, I'll give you your money back for accessing my blog. Deal? Alright then, it's settled.<br /><br />Well, not much else to really talk about today...and I've got a lot of laundry to do and errands to run...so I'll get back at ya after the Blaze game tonight. I've gotta work tomorrow (Mother's Day) so I should have plenty of time to catch you up on news &amp; events. Have a great weekend everybody!!! Oh...and here's another "Deep Thoughts with Megan Fox" or more specifically her beautifully engineered body. You know, I would read more books if they were printed like this. I can't wait to see how the story ends...<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198797898339924978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SCXXJOWZO_I/AAAAAAAAFjg/hRB0pDHp7uE/s320/megan-fox.jpg" border="0" />$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-11369368554445214062008-06-09T13:00:00.007-06:002008-07-04T13:30:19.972-06:00How to Stop Global Warming?Good Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />Well, I took some walks, ran some errands, basically getting psyched about the possible move to Vegas soon (kind of expecting them to say "Can you start on Monday?" when they do call) but other than that, nothing much going on with me this morning. My back's still a little sore...but it's a little better. Luckily, I have magic hands so I just have to self administer a rub-down...as self-gratifying as that sounds.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B48VLSjI/AAAAAAAAGDk/6BokFr3Xn1Y/s1600-h/rhinestone.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209963159205136946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px" height="168" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B48VLSjI/AAAAAAAAGDk/6BokFr3Xn1Y/s320/rhinestone.jpg" width="247" border="0" /></a>I would also like to take this time to adjust my <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/05/giving-blood-part-5.html"><strong>Sylvester Stallone Movie List</strong> </a>with a new <strong>Flush It</strong>, having caught the last fifteen minutes of "<strong>Rhinestone</strong>" on TV. The story is that an aging country singer (Dolly Parton) tries to teach her new protege to be the next big thing in country music...and it's a New York taxi driver (Sylvester Stallone). Now, that's all I know about the story...and the ending is...well, it's Stallone singing...country music. Sure, Dolly Parton's a little easy on the eyes...but it doesn't make up for the full Rambo-esque assault on the ears from the Italian Stallion. Sorry Sly, but there's a reason you make movies &amp; not going on tour opening for Ashlee Simpson.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B3kv54-I/AAAAAAAAGDM/5-xhHN0T5M8/s1600-h/edtv.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209963135694922722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="189" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B3kv54-I/AAAAAAAAGDM/5-xhHN0T5M8/s320/edtv.jpg" width="214" border="0" /></a>Now, I'm watching one of my favorite satire movies "<strong>EdTV</strong>" starring Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Ellen DeGeneres, Jenna Elfman, Martin Landau, Dennis Hopper, Liz Hurley, and directed by Ron Howard. It's about a reality show that basically shows the life of video store clerk named ED (McConaughey) on TV 24 hours a day...becoming an overnight sensation. Now with his newfound celebrity, he's trying to get with Dharma...er, Jenna Elfman but the paparazzi interfere. I consider this movie great research for my future celebrity status...and how to handle it gracefully. It's actually a really good, funny movie but didn't get a whole lot of publicity &amp; respect for whatever reason. I guess everything on TV hadn't become a reality show quite yet when it came out in 1999. Check it out if you haven't. Good times. Now for the news...<br /><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B4SUxY0I/AAAAAAAAGDc/RV75MCn7lkg/s1600-h/potty.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209963147929150274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="220" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B4SUxY0I/AAAAAAAAGDc/RV75MCn7lkg/s320/potty.jpg" width="232" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_stuck_in_toilet;_ylt=AjjhbR.2kEgJ9BkS.EzDWt0jr7sF">Life Going Down the Shitter?</a></strong> - Sometimes, we all feel a little depressed...and feel like the world is just so much to bear...but please remember, <strong>it could always get worse</strong>. For example, rescue crews had to cut apart a portable toilet to rescue a man who got stuck naked inside the potty. Authorities say the 31-year-old man used his cell phone to call 911 on Sunday from inside a portable toilet. Police say the man had been drinking and had taken off his clothes. Somehow, he immersed himself in the holding tank. (The imagination wanders...) The man was charged with public drunkenness and creating a health code violation. <strong>Which brings up the moral question...</strong>if you were to walk into a port-a-potty and there was a man stuck in there...would you help him out? Certainly you may call for somebody to come help them...but would you reach down in there &amp; help the guy out? Or would you just pretend that you couldn't hear him and do your business? Now, before you answer...it's the only port-a-potty in sight...and you've been holding it in for like an hour before you finally found this one. Now what do you do?<br /><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B5PFMzzI/AAAAAAAAGDs/iS1DrP_UDiM/s1600-h/warming.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209963164238401330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="229" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B5PFMzzI/AAAAAAAAGDs/iS1DrP_UDiM/s320/warming.jpg" width="194" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080606/ap_on_sc/japan_iea_climate_change;_ylt=AgWmw5imOWw4FXZaZxGa6aUbr7sF">How Much to Battle Global Warming?</a></strong> - A report by the Paris-based International Energy Agency envisions a "energy revolution" that would greatly reduce the world's dependence on fossil fuels while maintaining steady economic growth. The report says that in order for the world to HALVE greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050 (closer than you think), the world would need to <strong>invest $45 TRILLION in energy</strong>...or just over a trillion dollars per year. A U.N.-network of scientists concluded last year that emissions have to be cut by at least half by 2050 to avoid an increase in world temperatures of between 3.6 and 4.2 degrees above pre-18th century levels. Scientists say temperature increases beyond that could trigger devastating effects, such as widespread loss of species, famines and droughts, and swamping of heavily populated coastal areas by rising oceans. You all know this...and I think that we should start on it...but yeah, I don't have $45 trillion. How much is $45 trillion? Well, about $100,000 per American man, woman, or child...but over the course of 40 years...so about $2500 per year per American. Bring in other countries (like ones with money not invested in war) and that number drops significantly. However, I think that I know the real reason for Global Warming...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B9T_f9AI/AAAAAAAAGD0/b4C-AXLe9Io/s1600-h/washer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209963234276144130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="234" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B9T_f9AI/AAAAAAAAGD0/b4C-AXLe9Io/s320/washer.jpg" width="204" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/oukoe_uk_washingmachine;_ylt=Ag1RsfAmDnwEUrHZ.wgBq8ojr7sF"><strong>One Step with Laundry</strong> </a>- <strong><a href="http://www.xerosltd.com/">Xeros</a></strong>, which has been spun out of the University of Leeds, said on Monday that new washing machines would use <strong>less than 2 percent of the water and energy</strong> of a conventional washing machine. Plastic chips are used to remove dirt and stains from clothes, leaving them dry and reducing energy consumption as there is no need to use a dryer after the washing cycle. The firm, which recently secured investment of almost 500,000 pounds from IP Group, told Reuters the <strong>price of the new machines</strong> was "not expected to be dramatically different from (conventional) washing machines." Washing machine usage has risen by 23 percent in the past 15 years. The average household uses almost 21 liters of water daily on clothes washing or roughly <strong>13% of daily household water consumption</strong>. A typical washing machine uses about 35 kilograms of water for every kilogram of clothes, in addition to the power needed to heat the water and dry the clothes. Not a bad start...but I like my idea of just being naked all the time...and at least one other person agrees with me...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B4MW3QFI/AAAAAAAAGDU/shTuFlzqG7c/s1600-h/megan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209963146327310418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2B4MW3QFI/AAAAAAAAGDU/shTuFlzqG7c/s320/megan.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20080603/en_celeb_eo/e2f422067a88_4035_8b16_b38db3a238b7"><strong>Fox in Heat</strong> </a>- As any reader of this blog may know, <strong>Megan Fox</strong> is really really hot...and named the Sexiest Woman in the World by FHM magazine last month (and <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/07/independence-day-theatrics.html">predicted to be a big star by me </a>when I watched Transformers last year). <strong>Is she and other ladies out there like her the reason for Global Warming?</strong> Well, now, she just got hotter. In an interview with FHM, she was quoted as saying, "I really enjoy having sex, and that's offensive to some people. Women are the quickest to call other women sluts, which I think is sad. I haven't met a lot of men who have said, 'You like having sex? What a dirty whore you are.' I'm young and have a lot of hormones—I'm always in the mood! But I like sex with one person when I'm in a relationship. Sex with random people who I've met at clubs is not really my thing. I have the libido of a 15-year-old boy. My sex drive is so high. I'd rather have sex with Brian (boyfriend Brian Austin Green) all the time than leave the house. He doesn't mind." Yes, that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Austin_Green"><strong>Brian Austin Green</strong> </a>from Beverly Hills 90210. He's 35 (and shares my brother's birthday oddly enough) and she's 22. Well, at least we share similar views on sex...which is really hot...and I'm sure that 90% of you are thinking the same thing. Brian Austin Green is one lucky mother lover to have a Fox like that.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209963301227680002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SE2CBNZ_UQI/AAAAAAAAGD8/0g47WXUGmUU/s320/megan_fox.jpg" border="0" /><br />Anyway, enough about saving the environment and the gigantic costs ($45 trillion...perhaps, but an unsatisfied woman...simply too much), I think I'll see what my dad's up to &amp; hang out with him during his last week off before going back to work. I'm sure that I've mentioned it...but he's basically fully recovered and doing fix-its and errands around the house. <strong>He's a great guy...and I hope to be like him someday</strong>. Fix stuff around the house for his family, always there if you need somebody to talk to, great sense of humor &amp; perspective on life, loving husband &amp; father, sounds like the sweetest gig that you'll never get paid for...except for a silly tie once a year. That's right, this is a plug for <strong>Father's Day this Sunday</strong>. Don't forget. I have no idea what I'm going to give him...but I did take him to Vegas a few weeks ago. We'll see what else he gets. <strong>Suggestion for the day</strong> - Call your dad / stepdad / husband / male role model up a little early...and tell them how much you love them. They'll greatly appreciate it. Trust me. There's nothing a guy likes to hear more...well, not much anyway. Have a great day everybody!!!$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-35220092320820964872008-07-03T09:42:00.004-06:002008-07-03T10:00:41.558-06:00MORE COWBELL!!!<div><div>Good Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />Last night after meetings, I went over to <strong>Filly's</strong> house and basically we played Rock Band, watched some South Park (yes, including Guitar Queer-O), and ate pizza. It was good clean wholesome fun...except for Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo. Other than that, not really much to tell. Today, I have the day off so I was going to get some stuff done around the house...then <strong>Bubbles</strong> is in town, so we'll probably hang out &amp; have a few drinks (shocking, I know) but really no plans or anything. She does know that I work Friday &amp; Saturday nights though...and she's a little bummed...but she'll get over it...and I'll be off at midnight. Well, according to the <strong><a href="http://classyandfabulousandkatie.blogspot.com/2008/07/every-day-is-holidayno-seriously-it-is.html">Classy &amp; Fabulous Katie's</a></strong> blog, today is Air Conditioning Appreciation Day, Compliment Your Mirror Day, and Independence Day...for Belarus. I've already complimented myself in the mirror (every day in my world), going to appreciate the AC in my car, and congratulations to the Belarusians. Enjoy the sweet savory taste of Freedom. Anyway, here's some real news...<br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGz3JpMBR4I/AAAAAAAAGb0/H5FmGoPfW10/s1600-h/panda.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218817813262714754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="257" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGz3JpMBR4I/AAAAAAAAGb0/H5FmGoPfW10/s320/panda.jpg" width="249" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080627/sc_afp/chinaquakeanimalpanda_080627160341"><strong>Panda Update</strong> </a>- South China may get its first panda breeding centre, taking over some of the animals driven from their home by last month's powerful earthquake in the country's far southwest. The <strong>Xiangjiang Safari Park in Guangzhou</strong>, capital of Guangdong province, is applying to the State Forestry Administration for permission to breed the endangered animals. "The park has all it takes for panda breeding ... with the state-of-the-art infrastructure and our rich experience of taking care of rare animals like pandas, koalas and golden monkeys," said Zhang Delu, a park official. Currently only Beijing, Fujian province in the southeast, and Sichuan province in the southwest have panda breeding centres...and of course, the one in the Sichuan province was damaged by that May 12th 8.0 earthquake and millions in the area are homeless...so their attention is elsewhere. Best of luck, Xiangjiang Safari Park!!!<br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGz3JXoj2JI/AAAAAAAAGbs/tGhvRJh3ufc/s1600-h/giraffe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218817808550582418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGz3JXoj2JI/AAAAAAAAGbs/tGhvRJh3ufc/s320/giraffe.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_netherlands_circus_escape;_ylt=AhW4SN540Ags31VCYmu6x0Ejr7sF"><strong>Madagascar 2: Marty &amp; Alex Go to Amsterdam</strong> </a>- Amsterdam police say 15 camels, two zebras and an undetermined number of llamas and potbellied swine briefly escaped from a traveling Dutch circus after <strong>a giraffe kicked a hole in their cage</strong>. The animals were back at the circus later Monday after being rounded up by police and circus workers with the assistance of dogs. Aben says neighbors fed some of the animals, which he said was a bad idea, but they were tame and nobody was hurt. Says police spokesperson Arnout Aben: "You have to imagine somebody rubbing his eyes first thing in the morning and saying, 'Am I seeing things or is that 15 camels walking past?'" See what happens when you shrink the Red Light District? The animals see weakness...and smell fear. "Ah-ha, they are intimidated by our styles once again!!! Now is the time to strike!!! Llama infantry, ATTACK!!!" "Yes General Jaffe (because seriously, what else are you going to name a giraffe?)"<br /></div><div><br /><strong><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGz3JO1xBhI/AAAAAAAAGbc/6BPs3kpPzb4/s1600-h/aurora.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218817806190052882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 141px" height="130" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGz3JO1xBhI/AAAAAAAAGbc/6BPs3kpPzb4/s320/aurora.jpg" width="238" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20080701/sc_space/earthscriesrecordedinspace;_ylt=AiAoH7Qx3la_rG1CwS1Xl8Ubr7sF">Does the Earth Cry?</a></strong> - Astronomers have discovered that Earth emits an ear-piercing series of chirps and whistles that could be heard by any aliens who might be listening. The sound is awful, a new <a href="https://owa.marriott.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/earthscriesrecordedinspace/28077918/SIG=128f5hosr/*http://www.space.com/php/video/player.php?video_id=080627-earth-sounds" target="_blank">recording from space</a> reveals. Scientists have known about the radiation since the 1970s. It is created high above the planet, where charged particles from the solar wind collide with Earth's magnetic field. It is related to the phenomenon that generates the colorful aurora, or Northern Lights. The radio waves are blocked by the ionosphere, a charged layer atop our atmosphere, so they do not reach Earth. That's good, because the out-of-this-world radio waves are <strong>10,000 times stronger than even the strongest military signal</strong>, the researchers said, and they would overwhelm all radio stations on the planet. This flat beam could be detected by aliens who've figured this process out, the researchers say. The knowledge could also be used by Earth's astronomers to detect planets around other stars, if they can build a new radio telescope big enough for the search. They could also learn more about Jupiter and Saturn by studying AKR, which should emit from the auroral activity on those worlds. Now, when I listened to it, I thought it was a lot like the sounds from the Transformers movie (and probably was used for it) but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of importance to it. If aliens were able to hear the noise, it would be like them hearing wind blow through the trees...only a LOT less calming. Then again, what if the Earth is talking to us...or aliens...and this is their SOS signal? Yeah, probably not...but I'm just trying to make this interesting to somebody else other than me. </div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGz3Jfj_o_I/AAAAAAAAGbk/drrv0ZLx6No/s1600-h/cohenferrell.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218817810678916082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGz3Jfj_o_I/AAAAAAAAGbk/drrv0ZLx6No/s320/cohenferrell.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.darkhorizons.com/news08/080702e.php"><strong>Sherlock Holmes Movie</strong> </a>- Speaking of things that may make the Earth cry, "Talladega Nights" trio Sacha Baron Cohen, Will Ferrell and producer Judd Apatow are re-teaming on an untitled Sherlock Holmes comedy for Sony Pictures. Cohen will play detective Holmes and Ferrell will play his assistant Watson. Inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes tales, the plot is being kept under wraps but the article was quick to point out that the film has nothing to do with the proposed 2010 Guy Ritchie-directed Warner Bros. Pictures drama "Sherlock Holmes". Really? Wouldn't have guessed that with Borat playing Sherlock Holmes &amp; Ron Burgundy as Watson. For some reason, I don't see Guy Ritchie getting involved with that. It may be a funny movie...but I'm still waiting for the announcement of the <a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2008/03/gov-spitzer-swallowshis-pride.html"><strong>Will Ferrell biker movie costarring Martin Klebba</strong></a>.<br /></div><div><br />Anyway, that'll do it for today. I'll catch up with you on <strong>INDEPENDENCE DAY</strong>!!! Fireworks, hot dogs &amp; burgers, cold beers, and...oh yeah, 8 hours of work during primetime for that stuff. Why did I decide to work that shift? Honestly, I was planning on being in Vegas by this time, remember? Funny how things work out. Have a great day everybody!!!</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218817903987544898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGz3O7KgU0I/AAAAAAAAGb8/x2w8Fqky8wE/s320/fireworks.jpg" border="0" /></div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-58661266592990216022008-07-02T11:08:00.004-06:002008-07-02T11:38:43.342-06:00The Next Step<div>Good Morning Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /><br />Yesterday was an interesting day at work. Well, not really. I get frustrated about certain aspects of my job...and the only thing that can save me is my <strong>Mute Button</strong> when talking to people on the phone. Don't get me wrong, I like my job...and I do it tremendously. However, there are a few things that I don't like to do...and among those is repeat myself...a lot...and have to adjust to usual speech patterns to something that sounds retarded just so that you understand me Ms. Duluth Georgia. "Could you spell that for me?" Then they continue to use the four sounds that apparently in her deck of the woods constitute 26 separate letters in the English alphabet. "Ee, ugh, ee, ee, ah, ee, (slurp), ep." "I'm sorry...ugh, could you use it in a sentence? Definition? Country of origin?" So after ten busy hours of that...I wasn't in the best mood. So yeah, I like my job...but I wanna take the next step...in a new place like Vegas (even though it feels like Sisyphus pushing that boulder up the hill). <strong>Why take the next step</strong>? I've found from experience that just because you're a great f**k doesn't mean that you have to remain a porn star. Sometimes you wanna direct, produce, get the money as well as the honey, the next step.<br /><br />Sometimes you just lose that feeling that you used to get by doing a fantastic job &amp; being adequately rewarded. Sometimes you just need to try something new to keep your creative side satisfied. Sometimes you feel like the only reason you haven't moved on already is because you're quite talented at entertaining yourself &amp; others with your delusionally optimisitic views...and you're just too damn lazy and/or afraid to make the move. Sometimes the money that you make is "good enough" for the work that you do. Slowly but surely, time goes by...and though you have many wonderful adventures along the way, you look back, and have to question decisions made along the way. Sometimes you sit at home some mornings and watch Samantha Brown travel through Latin America, Europe, Asia, and a bunch of other places that you haven't been (even a few that you spent a day at) and think <strong>"Why don't I have my own show on the Travel Channel?"</strong> I don't wanna be satisfied right now. I don't wanna be complacent. I want to have the Passion that I used to have when doing my job &amp; not feel like I'm wasting my time for a fistful of dolla dolla bills y'all (Though when moved from fists to a pocket or bank account is nice to have around).</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGu8d_7TtpI/AAAAAAAAGbM/YZiGlFbzhhs/s1600-h/laoskulptur.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218471816801269394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGu8d_7TtpI/AAAAAAAAGbM/YZiGlFbzhhs/s320/laoskulptur.jpg" border="0" /></a>I want to try new things, see the world, make a few bucks along the way, spread the Love, do stuff that when I blog about it won't bore you to tears like my incessent bitching, and if it's not asking too much...maybe have a gorgeous nympho waiting for me when I get home. High goals? Well, when you shoot for the stars, sometimes you get the Moon. I believe it was the Taoist philosopher <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi"><strong>Lao Tzu</strong> </a>(pictured riding a mechanical bull) who said, <strong>"Love is of all Passions the strongest, for it attacks the head, the heart, and the senses (and the groin)."</strong> By the way, is he related to "Art of War" author <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Tzu">Sun Tzu</a></strong>? Maybe I'm just suffering from Love deprivation...and it's effecting my outlook of work. Maybe I'm just frustrated in oh so many ways so everything's getting to me (my God, it has been over a year). Oh well, at least Karma comes back around...and I do have great friends &amp; family to keep my spirits up. For example, in the heart of my trying day at work yesterday, here's what happened...<br /><br />As mentioned yesterday, <strong>we had visitors at work</strong> and they were giving away the fabulous prize of a $75 Gas Card (a little over a tank for Brandy or Baby) for filling out a quiz about their company. Took like two minutes to do, so I did it. About an hour later, I'm doing my job...and while maintaining a professional voice, am getting frustrated with a customer who doesn't understand that Georgia is a big state, not a city, so I need to know where within Georgia they were curious about...so when they weren't comprehending this, I used my Mute button and express my opinion of this person using a somewhat vulgar tone &amp; language. I then notice a shadow over me...and there were a total of <strong>EIGHT managers</strong> (including the three visitors) standing behind me. Luckily, they were laughing a bit...because I'm charming...and they heard me continue to explain to the customer the geography behind my query. When that call was over, I apologized for the language...and they presented me with the Gas Card. YAY!!! I'm not fired...and I have a tank of gas in my hand. YAY!!!<br /><br />After that, <strong>Brooklyn</strong> was working late with me...and had a brilliant suggestion to go to <strong><a href="http://www.greenstreetslc.com/">Green Street</a> </strong>and have a few drinks after work and play Buzztime Trivia. So I stuck around work (though I wasn't getting paid) to hang with her for an hour &amp; keep the late night crew entertained as usual...then we headed to the bar, had a few Red Stripes (special for $2 a bottle), I lost my ass in trivia (no movie or sports questions, mostly literature &amp; obscure history), and then headed home. Good times. Gonna have to do that again sometime. See? Though I may feel a little bummed sometimes, I know that I have great people to cheer me up...and <strong>Karma comes back around</strong>, so I just have to keep up the positive thoughts...and then through the power of the Cosmos, my nympho will present herself...or you know, whatever Karma decides to give me...though if Karma's interested, I could make a list or something to help out. Anyway, here's some news...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGu8draSN2I/AAAAAAAAGbE/vTTF46iXUQQ/s1600-h/ficeb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218471811294050146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGu8draSN2I/AAAAAAAAGbE/vTTF46iXUQQ/s320/ficeb.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/fbleuro2008esprussexoffbeat;_ylt=AgTyYlb.ISEOxcimSZOBEGgjr7sF"><strong>Soccer Strikes Again</strong> </a>- Spain's success at Euro 2008 hurt attendance at an erotic film festival which wrapped up Saturday in Madrid as its target audience (horny men a.k.a. men) were glued to their television screens to watch the national soccer team. About 15,000 people flocked to the three-day International Erotic Film Festival of Barcelona (FICEB), staged for the first time in the Spanish capital this year since it started being held in 1992 (remember those Olympics? The Real Dream Team?). Over 60 firms were represented at this year's edition of the film festival which featured live sex shows and an awards ceremony for different categories of pornographic films. Previous editions of the event, which features performances by buxom strippers and appearances by top porn stars, have drawn over 50,000 people. FICEB director Juli Simon blamed the lower-than-expected turnout on the fact that the festival's opening day coincided with Spain's 3-0 Euro 2008 semi-final win over Russia which drew a record Spanish television audience of 17 million. "<strong>Football is one of the few things that can compete with sex</strong>." Really? I mean...don't get me wrong, I love basketball...but given the chance to see the Spurs play even the 1972 Lakers...and get cockteased by Spanish-speaking porn stars, you can bet that 10 times out of 10 that I'm going to FICEB and offer some "mosca espanaya" if that's how you say Spanish fly in Spanish. Silly me took German in high school for some reason. As mentioned during my travels in Barcelona, <strong>Spanish is just sexy</strong>. For example, I watched "Pan's Labyrinth" in theatres last year &amp; apparently I misunderstood a few things about the movie beforehand. "What the...it's in Spanish? Oh man, now I have to read subtitles. Holy Christ!!! Did that dude's throat just get sliced open? What the hell kind of kid's show is this? Oh my, now the mother is having a miscarriage or something &amp; writhing in pain...moaning in Spanish...uh-oh. Why am I getting aroused by this? There's blood...and she's obviously in pain...but it's...just so sexy. This is gonna be really awkward when David Bowie &amp; those Muppets finally show up in the movie."<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGu8d63BglI/AAAAAAAAGbU/pIYaq4vysYU/s1600-h/Sexbot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218471815441121874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGu8d63BglI/AAAAAAAAGbU/pIYaq4vysYU/s320/Sexbot.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080701/sc_livescience/futuristicchembotssqueezethroughsmallspaces;_ylt=AqrA4iHh18l3stGwD.Rl4rMbr7sF"><strong>Sexbot Update</strong> </a>- Soft and squishy chemical robots will one day squeeze through tight spots then expand to 10 times larger, offering an advantage over rigid robots. Once a mission is complete, a chembot would biodegrade. The chembots could get into a building through a crack, for example. They could explore a cave or crevice and dismantle an explosive...or they might climb ropes, wires or trees. Another tiny idea: One chembot could pack a smaller chembot into a situation, then release it for even more minute explorations. Researchers at Tufts University in Medford, MA have received a $3.3 million contract from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to build the soft automatons. ChemBots represent "the convergence of soft materials chemistry and robotics. It is an entirely new way of looking at robots and could someday yield great technological advantage for our armed forces," said Mitchell Zakin, who oversees the program for DARPA. You may be asking, "$teve, how does this constitute a Sexbot Update?" Well, according to this information, there may be inflatable sexbots (or sexbot parts) that can squish into tiny crevasses, nooks, and crannies...then expand...and eventually disintegrate. I don't want to go into incredible detail on this PG-13 blog...but sounds like a little something for the ladies may be on the way...or at the very least, the ability to collapse and conceal your sexbot into a small area of your home. We shall see in the future...for as the <strong>Amazing Criswell</strong> once said, "We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember, my friends, future events such as these will affect you in the future."<br /><br />Anyway, that'll do it for me today. Meetings at work today...then I have Thursday off, which is awesome...because then I work late on Friday &amp; Saturday to celebrate the holidays. It should be fun though. I'm sure that I'll make due. Have a great day everybody...and if I don't see you by then, <strong>have a great 4th of July weekend</strong>!!! YAY AMERICA!!!</div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-9424687966180898642008-07-01T08:52:00.009-06:002008-07-01T09:49:57.972-06:00Smokin' Cigarettes & Watching Captain Kangaroo<div><div>Good Morning Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /></div><br /><div>Well, the work situation keeps getting ever so deeper...as it appears that <strong>the next time I'll be able to certify will be in August</strong> some time...then I can apply (if the job's still there), then they can take a few weeks to call me back, then when they realize that they've wanted me for a while now...they offer me a job, I move down there...if I choose them over the originally intended employer, who may be hiring again by that time. <strong>What does it mean</strong>? I get to miss the Vegas summer which isn't all that bad...but it also means that it's going to be a total of six months for this single guy with a great work ethic &amp; not a whole lot of attachments just to get a job in Vegas. <strong>Thanks Bush</strong>!!! How many days do you have left?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRQR7juAI/AAAAAAAAGas/b_n0MtnUVmk/s1600-h/richardcheese.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218072458395105282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="166" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRQR7juAI/AAAAAAAAGas/b_n0MtnUVmk/s320/richardcheese.jpg" width="226" border="0" /></a>Last night, I decided to add a little treat for my fans...by adding <strong>my little playlist</strong> thing from my <strong><a href="http://www.myspace.com/kondrick">MySpace</a></strong> account here so that you have some merry tunes while reading my gibberish. It's not a complete list of awesomeness...but it has some classics, some hip-hop, and <strong><a href="http://www.richardcheese.com/">Richard Cheese &amp; Lounge Against the Machine</a></strong>, which is always goodtime lounge music. Also, if you're wondering how to change the track (or just turn it off), it's on the right sidebar towards the bottom.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRQCRUQXI/AAAAAAAAGak/4ZihLkdMIv8/s1600-h/lovepotion9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218072454191399282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="190" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRQCRUQXI/AAAAAAAAGak/4ZihLkdMIv8/s320/lovepotion9.jpg" width="260" border="0" /></a>Luckily, I got off work a little early yesterday...but couldn't go straight to sleep as intended because my house was too hot. So I turned on the swamp cooler, turned on the TV, and watched "<strong>Love Potion No. 9</strong>" starring Tate Donovan &amp; Sandra Bullock (and Adrian Paul as an Italian car company owner &amp; Dylan Baker as Prince of England briefly). I really like this movie...because it's quite ridiculous &amp; funny for an early 90's romantic comedy. It's about a pair of scientists who meet up with a psychic downtown...and are given a special potion that when diluted &amp; drank, will cause the opposite sex to fall in Love with simply by hearing your voice. They test it on monkeys first (of course) but it rings true...so they decide to test it out on humans...and oh yeah, it works. As probably guessed, the girl use it to get diamond necklaces &amp; become a princess while the guy took it to the bars &amp; sorority houses. Anyway, the guy then realizes that he loves Sandra Bullock (can't blame him) and it goes from there. I say check it out. It's a great cheesy funny heartwarming flick from the year of '92. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>After that, I went to bed for about ten hours...and just woke up a few minutes ago. I'm over my sun sickness now. Long day at work today and we have a visitor so I have to dress up...but it's all good...because I look gooooood in a suit. Believe it or not. Anyway, here's the news...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRQVMCZTI/AAAAAAAAGa0/XzCdP8WCIbU/s1600-h/statler.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218072459269530930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px" height="257" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRQVMCZTI/AAAAAAAAGa0/XzCdP8WCIbU/s320/statler.jpg" width="230" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080628/ap_en_ot/people_statler_brothers"><strong>Statler Brothers Honored</strong> </a>- The country/gospel group <strong>The Statler Brothers</strong> have been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Statler Brothers were first hired as a vocal backing group by the late great Johnny Cash. They had their first hit in 1965 with "Flowers on the Wall." They had several more Top 40 hits through the 1970s and 1980s, including "The Class of '57," "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine" and "I'll Go to My Grave Loving You." Also, some of my other favorites include "Susan When She Tries", "Bed of Roses", and "Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott?" Harold Reid says the honor makes their career worthwhile. "It wraps up everything you did. Every song you wrote. Every performance you did. Every TV show. Everything that we did that made a contribution to the business. They looked at us and said thank you for the contribution. It doesn't get any better than that." Another great thing about these guys is that they dedicated their Greatest Hits album to their wives. Tell me that's not the sweetest thing ever. You won't hear about Motley Crue doing something like that. Congratulations to the Statler Brothers…and if you ever want to hear some of their merry ditties…all you need to do is ask.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><strong><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRWqhO3mI/AAAAAAAAGa8/9OxkWP-2A88/s1600-h/verne_troyer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218072568074788450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRWqhO3mI/AAAAAAAAGa8/9OxkWP-2A88/s320/verne_troyer.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080628/ap_en_mo/people_verne_troyer_lawsuit">Mini-Me Has a Sextape Now?</a></strong> - From wholesome music to celebrity porn, thus is my existence…and therefore my blog. Actor <strong>Verne Troyer</strong> (Mini-Me in "Austin Powers") has successfully shut down the distribution of a sex tape featuring him &amp; a former girlfriend. The celebrity Web site TMZ posted a 25-second snipped of the video Wednesday, but pulled the clips down Friday evening after a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order requested by Troyer's attorneys. The ruling prevents any attempt by a porn distributor from taking orders for the full 50-minute video, and keeps TMZ from broadcasting any more clips. Troyer's lawsuit also seeks $20 million in damages and the return of all copies of the tape. TMZ reported that the video could fetch $100,000 from a porn distributor. Really? That's it? I think a more realistic number would be about a million if Mr. Troyer wants to distribute it. Honestly though, unless he's diving in there head-first and wiggling like a salmon going upstream, or his former girlfriend is <strong><a href="http://www.sexymeganfox.com/">Megan Fox</a></strong>, then I'm not really interested in seeing the movie. However, there is a niche market for that kind of thing. I've seen the Pam Anderson - Tommy Lee tape. If I had the opportunity to see the Kim Kardashian tape, I wouldn't turn it down (unless the offer came from somebody creepy). I've even seen little people in porn before. Even when you stop laughing, it still isn't sexy. I guess my point is…there are certain celebrities that most people WANT to see in sex tapes…and then there's Mini-Me, who a few people want to see. Mr. Troyer, if you don't want your tape distributed, then I say do everything you can to forbid it (<strong>call Kim Kardashian's dad, he has some experience in this field…and he got O.J. off</strong>) but if you want to make a few bucks…then don't settle for less than will satisfy you. Can't wait until I have a celebrity sextape. All I need now is celebrity status…and maybe a partner. That's what I'm waiting to see on TMZ next…is a video of somebody like Daniel Radcliffe masturbating or something. "Check out this footage of the Harry Potter actor's sextape…with himself. This was sent to us by a former stagehand who found this footage when Mr. Radcliffe thought he had found a solitary bathroom…but it was actually a set for a new teen comedy. The stagehand then compiled it into a ten-minute video using the various angles…and yes, the audio is excellent. Viewidus Erectus!!! Available at TMZ.com."<br /></div><br /><br /><div><strong><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRP2TQn_I/AAAAAAAAGac/KZgquK02Jso/s1600-h/germany.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218072450978324466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 207px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 209px" height="232" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRP2TQn_I/AAAAAAAAGac/KZgquK02Jso/s320/germany.jpg" width="201" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/manure_dc;_ylt=Ag5PMNxSnlqfcm6HFFN1wJAjr7sF">What Is It With Germans &amp; Feces?</a></strong> - Wednesday evening, two women entered a farm in the northern village of Eberholzen and started to fill the stockings with manure to make what the article calls "Manure bombs." A police spokesperson said, "One of them slipped into the manure tank, right into the cow muck. The other one helped her out. We found their clothes in a field. One seems to have run off completely naked, the other in her underwear." Police said it was unclear what the women had intended to do with the "<strong>manure bombs</strong>," but added the incident could be linked to victory celebrations surrounding the Euro 2008 semi-finals on Wednesday evening, when Germany beat Turkey 3-2. "The women can get their clothes back from the local police station -- <strong>unwashed</strong>." Maybe blog reader <strong><a href="http://usauslaender.blogspot.com/">Ruben</a></strong> (who is now a local celebrity after being in the local online paper with his new car) can shed some light on these seemingly ridiculous celebration methods…but wow, Germans really like poop. I've seen…er, heard of those videos on the internet. That ain't fudge. I've seen your Hasselhoff. Who is he to judge talent? Now you celebrate your soccer victories with these "Manure Bombs"? That's not the sweet smell of Victory. Actually…now that I think about it…it's really not that weird. Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit. However, if I were to do such an unbelievable things as exaggerate…why are the police keeping the clothes at the station? Unwashed? Either it's a clever ploy to draw out the fecafanatics…or somebody just likes the aroma in the evidence room.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRP8jD9pI/AAAAAAAAGaU/i8nvs_Uttow/s1600-h/brothelinterior.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218072452655216274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="156" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGpRP8jD9pI/AAAAAAAAGaU/i8nvs_Uttow/s320/brothelinterior.jpg" width="244" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/brothel_dc;_ylt=AmDo2OkmezMjVMzNTn.74Jsjr7sF"><strong>South Beach is Awesome!!!</strong> </a>- On Wednesday, police said that a "<strong>brothel bus</strong>" that detectives said cruised Miami Beach offering lap dances and drinks has taken its last ride. The sleek black bus cruised the South Beach neighborhood popular among tourists and club-goers, offering <strong>rides and unlimited drinks for $40</strong>. Riders were then offered oral sex for $100, according to Miami Beach police who impounded the limousine bus and arrested its operator early last Sunday. While aboard, undercover detectives (the lucky ones) said they found a fully stocked bar and several young women who stripped down to reveal G-strings stuffed with cash and offered to perform sex acts. Suspected operator Christine Morteh, 29, was arrested on charges of offering to commit prostitution, transportation for the purpose of prostitution and operating a business without a license. She was released from jail on $5,000 bond (50 BJs). I've been to South Beach a few times in my life…but I must have been hanging in the wrong area. Would I have fallen for the ride, unlimited drinks, and lap dances for $40 plus tips? You bet your ass I would have. BJ for a Benjamin? Probably not…but then again. Oh well, won't have to worry about that moral dilemma anymore…and probably a good thing…because if I were immersed in an environment where prostitution was mainstay, that would probably have a serious impact on my moral barometer. Oh, by the way, did I mention the Vegas situation already today? Don't know why that just popped in my head just now. Yup, looks like I did.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Happy July everybody!!! The year 2008 is already half gone. How's your <strong>New Year's Resolution list</strong> looking so far? Let's check out mine real quick.</div><br /><div></div><br /><ul><li><strong>Travel more...or at least as much</strong> - Yeah, still traveling</li><br /><li><strong>Find a good girl who likes me too</strong> - Sigh...</li><br /><li><strong>Have more sex...preferably with a woman nearby</strong> - Double sigh...</li><br /><li><strong>Pursue another part-time job...maybe as a late night radio DJ</strong> - Just trying to get another job in Vegas now</li><br /><li><strong>Play more basketball. I miss our times together</strong> - Don't believe I've picked up a basketball yet this year</li><br /><li><strong>Give more to charity &amp; donate time, blood, plasma, sperm, hair, feces, whatever they'll take </strong>- Blood a few times &amp; helping with a charity yard sale in a few weeks</li><br /><li><strong>Dance more...preferably with a woman nearby</strong> - I have the ability but not a lot of ballroom socials that I'm invited to</li><br /><li><strong>Swear less (now that my nieces &amp; nephews are getting spongier)</strong> - I try...and kind of mute myself sometimes...which is really just weird more than anything</li><br /><li><strong>Should I swear off Mountain Dew or something? Like Lent?</strong> - I've been drinking MUCH less than I was &amp; a lot more water</li><br /><li><strong>Nah, maybe just eat healthier...or cook more</strong> - I'm cooking a little more &amp; eating more veggies and jogging when it's not 100 degrees outside</li><br /><li><strong>Remember JJ</strong> - Who? Just kiddin', I may be seeing her in a few weeks instead of seeing the metropolis of Cheyenne, Wyoming</li><br /><li><strong>Smack more asses (a.k.a. More forward with the opposite sex)</strong> - Eh, not really...</li><br /><li><strong>Drive </strong><a href="http://drmookielove.blogspot.com/2007/07/taylorsville-dayzz.html"><strong>my Baby </strong></a><strong>more</strong> - Frustrated sigh...</li><br /><li><strong>Most importantly, make sure everybody out there knows how much I love &amp; care for them</strong> - I think people out there have a good idea about it...without crossing that threshold of creepiness</li></ul><br /><p>That'll do it for today. Gonna clean up around the crib before I head into work. Have a great day everybody...and let me know how those resolutions are coming. Hopefully you've either kept them...or doing something that makes you happy. Peace!!!</p></div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948259476704194230.post-14422067912438738542008-06-30T12:28:00.011-06:002008-06-30T14:53:42.548-06:00Sabrina, Don't Just Stare At It. Eat It.<div><div><div><div>Good Afternoon Ladies &amp; Gentlemen,<br /></div><br /><div>Last night, I watched the latest episode of the <strong>Venture Brothers</strong> (love that show) then went to bed. I had a lot of errands that I needed to run...but really wanted to sleep in...because I needed some rest to get over this bug that I've had the past few days called heat exhaustion. However, if I slept in, that would mean that I'd have to do all of this running around in the heat. So I woke up around 7 AM and by the time I finished polishing my car &amp; running around to get her registered &amp; grocery shopping it was 10:30...and I sat down at my house...and basically passed out. Fifteen minutes later, <strong>Brooklyn</strong> texted me...but I was already feeling better with my <strong>Power Nap</strong>. I used to do those ALL the time when I was going to school &amp; had an hour in between class &amp; work...but it had been a while since I really needed one like that. It's also a good thing <strong>Brooklyn</strong> texted me...because who knows how long I would have slept? Anyway, now I'm at work...and have more stuff to do tomorrow...but I may just have to sleep in &amp; postpone those plans another 24 hours. I needs me some sleep.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Just got into work...and found out why there have been some problems with the new job application. Apparently, I'm <strong>no longer certified to be a manager</strong> (though I've pretty much been one for the last five years) so I have to do another mass interview (3-4 other managers asking me questions) some time soon. Loads of fun...and it's really odd because I've applied for a lot of internal jobs where I work...and it was never brought up. Explains a lot. Anyway, enough of my bitchin', that's not what you came for. Here's some news.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGlGcKScIqI/AAAAAAAAGaM/ubVRokie9c4/s1600-h/kidsprotest.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217779092897407650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="162" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGlGcKScIqI/AAAAAAAAGaM/ubVRokie9c4/s320/kidsprotest.jpg" width="240" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_kid_protest;_ylt=Ajce8cHkXUrlrTdWLnAMg7Qjr7sF"><strong>Slick City Siblings</strong> </a>- Sadie and Pyper Vance (brother's name is Bagger) have had just about enough of high gas prices. The sisters are still years away from being old enough to drive, but that doesn't mean the $4 per gallon price tag isn't hitting them as hard as anyone else. Why are they protesting? Their parents had to cut Cable TV to compensate for the cost of gas. The girls marched through downtown Monday chanting and carrying signs made from old campaign signs. "<strong>All of my mom's monny goes to the gas tank</strong>!" Pyper's sign read. Sadie carried a sign asking drivers to honk to lower gas prices — adding that her mom had to cut "<strong>cabel</strong>." You know…these kids really aren't aiding their cause. Sure, everybody already knows that gas prices are higher than usual…but they're really just speaking out on illiteracy when misspelling words like "Monny" and "Cabel" on city streets. Maybe it's a good thing that they don't have cable…so they can focus on their studies. "But $teve, it's summer vacation. What else are we supposed to do?" Read a book. Learn an instrument. Play (sigh) soccer. Mow the lawn. Do the dishes. Recycle. Chalk the sidewalk. Plant a garden. Get a job. Go cut me a switch. The possibilities are endless. I admire your spirit, Sadie &amp; Pyper (Seriously? With a Y?) but perhaps you should focus your efforts elsewhere…like finding a solution to this whole gas dependency thing. We could use a fresh new perspective on the subject.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGk-DjR3kkI/AAAAAAAAGZU/AP2BHAoq5JU/s1600-h/golf.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217769874016145986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="174" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGk-DjR3kkI/AAAAAAAAGZU/AP2BHAoq5JU/s320/golf.jpg" width="240" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_kids_golf_strippers;_ylt=Ajcel.dfbTAAzyWqi2nFdWYjr7sF"><strong>How Golf Should Be</strong> </a>- Sure, I have my views about Golf…and have expressed them before. I want there to be a lot of stuff that makes it more exciting both for the fan &amp; the player…but there are a lot of conservatives out there that don't share my view…and I respect that. Sure, high grass with booby traps &amp; shoe-hungry wildlife may not be good for the safety of your shoes. Sand traps with quicksand may lead to lengthy delays as they try to free the golfer from a slow, painful death. Additional water hazards like sprinklers, class three rapids, shaky rope bridges, and alligators may not be necessary. Even your opponent being allowed to count to ten-Mississippi while you're teeing off…before he/she is allowed to tackle you…may seem a little extreme. However, <strong>I didn't even consider strippers until this story came out</strong>. At the Gold Crown Junior Golf Association tournament Monday, youngsters aged 7 to 12 were just finishing up their rounds when scantily clad women spilled out of a limousine. The women were part of Shotgun Willie's Charity Golf Tournament to benefit breast cancer (the sexy killer). The strippers were to serve as caddies to patrons of the strip club. A club manager said there were 144 golfers and 70 caddies. A woman told KUSA-TV the event drew curious questions from her children, who asked her why the men joining the strippers had water guns and why the women wore only their underwear. Course manager Evelyn Koch says the women were forbidden from going topless and that they were just flirting with the men. "I cannot tell you the girls didn't flash out there but it wasn't a free-for-all." That's what golf needs…partial nudity while raising money for a noble cause. My hat's off to Shotgun Willie's and their groundbreaking tournament. Because it doesn't matter what you shoot, everybody's a winner.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGk-G4vUP2I/AAAAAAAAGZg/-WLCPszysk8/s1600-h/GrandTetonPark.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217769931316412258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="169" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGk-G4vUP2I/AAAAAAAAGZg/-WLCPszysk8/s320/GrandTetonPark.jpg" width="224" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/sports_bra_sos;_ylt=AvXCXFTF3LVaTVWNKR7mYX8jr7sF"><strong>Twin Peaks</strong> </a>- An American hiker stranded in the Bavarian Alps for nearly three days was rescued after using her sports bra as a signal. Berchtesgaden police officer Lorenz Rasp said that he helped lift 24-year-old Jessica Bruinsma of Colorado state to safety by helicopter on Thursday after she attracted the attention of lumberjacks by <strong>attaching her sports bra to a cable</strong> used to move timber down the mountain. "She's a very smart girl, and she acted very resourcefully," said Rasp. "She kept her shirt and jacket for warmth, but thought the sports bra could work as a signal." An Alpine rescue team, including five helicopters and 80 emergency workers, had been searching for Bruinsma since she went missing June 16 after losing her way in bad weather while hiking with a friend near the Austrian border. She fell about sixteen feet to a rocky overhang, where she spent the next 70 hours on the narrow ledge, sustained by water that she found by breaking into a supply box on the ledge. She badly bruised a leg and dislocated a shoulder in the fall, and the cliff was too isolated for her to climb free. "She did so well because she is in very good shape," Rasp said. "<strong>She has been training for a marathon</strong> (in the Alps?). Her goal is to finish in 3 hours and 10 minutes." Bruinsma told Rasp that she has scrapped plans to stay in Berchtesgaden to learn German and plans to return home to Colorado Springs with her parents. He said she still plans to run the marathon, if she recovers in time to keep training. Wow. Best of luck to you. Just goes to show ladies, taking off your bra may save your life one day. I'm pretty sure that was the moral of the story.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><strong><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_obscene_name_change;_ylt=Ajq9Ca7q.H.we8uHhc1xGwAjr7sF">Did you say your name was Buck?</a></strong> - A New Mexico appeals court ruled against a man trying to legally change his name to "<strong>F**k Censorship</strong>" on Friday. Judge Nan Nash ruled that the proposed name change was "obscene, offensive and would not comport with common decency." Here's a little background on the applicant though. In 2004, there was a similar situation in which the court had to clarify the law when concerning name changes. In that case, it was decided that the man had the right to call himself whatever he wants, unless there's fraud or misrepresentation involved but once he seeks court approval for a name change, the court has the authority to turn him down on several grounds, including if the name is offensive to common decency and good taste. The funny thing is…that <strong>it was the same guy</strong> who then changed his name from <strong>Snaphappy Fishsuit Mokiligon</strong>…to simply <strong>Variable</strong>. Now he was trying to change it <strong>from Variable to F**k Censorship</strong>. Suddenly Frank Zappa seems like father of the year. I mean…I'm not 100% sure if Snaphappy Fishsuit Mokiligon was the name that his parents gave him…but if so, they need their breeding license taken away.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGk-YWTttyI/AAAAAAAAGZ4/f9AdxTEG2CE/s1600-h/ninja.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217770231311480610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="167" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dQ5l0FgQLcs/SGk-YWTttyI/AAAAAAAAGZ4/f9AdxTEG2CE/s320/ninja.jpg" width="224" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_fake_ninja;_ylt=AtPFcioTRZDW6xu2vJJaiPAjr7sF"><strong>Ninja Makes the News</strong> </a>- Public schools in Barnegat, New Jersey were locked down briefly after someone reported <strong>seeing a Ninja running through the woods</strong> behind an elementary school. It turns out the ninja was actually a camp counselor dressed in black karate garb and carrying a plastic sword. Police tell the Asbury Park Press the man was late to a costume-themed day at a nearby middle school. I mean…obviously it was a false alarm…because a real ninja wouldn't have been seen…until it was TOO LATE…then vanished without a trace. I truly wish there were more ninjas in the news…but then they wouldn't be ninjas. Real reason for mentioning this…was just so that I could put up a picture of a ninja.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Anyway, that'll do it for today. Please have a wonderful day &amp; enjoy the wonderful weather outside...but drink plenty of water...or else. Just kiddin'...but not really, be safe out there having fun!!!</div></div></div></div>$tevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07739583084670618720noreply@blogger.com6